Author: .

At the dawn of the 21st century the new geopol itics present challenge s and opportunities for all players. Nowhere is this truer than in Africa which is entering a new era. Africa is emerging, more democratic, more vibrant, and pos itioning herself better to benefit from the opportunities of globalisation. The birth of the African Union (AU), the rein forced role of Africa’s Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Afri can blueprints for economic development (NEPAD - New Partnership for Africa's Devel opment) and for democratic governance (the African Peer Review Mechanism) together with the Strategic Plan of the African Union (2004-2007) marked a fundamental break in the way Africa looks at itself and how it engages with its external partners. Africa is now determined to assert its international status and is becoming active on major global issues like food security, energy and climate change and changing economic environments. Africa has created a network of partnerships which imply taking more responsibility for its own development, looking for African solutions to African problems. At the same time there is a renewed interest in the African continent because of its strategic significance in economic, security and political terms. This provides a genuine and welcome opportunity for Africa's development and its fight against poverty. The European Union and China are both long-sta nding partners of African countries. The EU and China are respectively the first and the thir d commercial partners of, and investors in, Africa. They have in recent years responded to Africa's transformation with major strategy reviews.