Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s president and hitherto an evangelist of China’s role in Africa, has warned an Africa-China summit that his continent needs to “be cautious when entering into partnerships with other economies”. Africans may legitimately worry about their trading patterns with the world’s second economy – but Mr Zuma and other African leaders are best placed to address these concerns.

Mr Zuma is right that a trade relationship based mainly on supplying China with unrefined raw materials is undesirable “in the long term”. Africa’s deepening integration with the world economy should not lock it into a role in China’s supply chain – and a low value-added role at that.

For now, however, the balance of China’s engagement with Africa is positive. The continent has had a good decade of strong growth. It would be wrong to dismiss China’s contribution to this – through financing, infrastructure construction, and the often neglected benefit of affordable manufactures.