China has provided extensive economic cooperation and aid to African countries, becoming a major strategic partner on the continent. This assistance has helped develop infrastructure but also sparked concerns about working conditions and environmental/safety standards. While China's involvement is welcomed for its development experience and financial support, some Western countries worry it could enable human rights issues and undermine democracy. However, China's aid and loans to Africa are not as large as commonly believed, and it argues its model of investment, trade, and technology transfer can help drive development, as it did for China.