Rui Verde's highly accessible work delivers new understanding of China's increased presence and influence in Africa since the turn of the century. Verde, in challenging assumptions about Chinese 'neo-imperial' manipulation of Africa, shows how both key Chinese and Angolan officials negotiated their way towards cooperation and the shared (and highly profitable) exploitation of Angola's natural resources. This book, based on extensive research and revealing interviews with relevant protagonists, demonstrates that individual and institutional gain, rather than ideology or geopolitics, is central to explaining how China operates in Africa. It will be required reading for policymakers and African scholars alike.

Miles Larmer, Professor of History, University of Florida, USA

Rui Verde's essential work on Angolan corruption is a must-read. In this valuable book, Verde explores the changing nature of Angola-China relations with a deft understanding of the Angolan regime, as well as the economic and political imbalances between the two countries.

Ricardo Soares de Oliveira, Full Professor of Political Science, CERI Sciences Po, France