Author: Bates Gill, Chin-hao Huang, J Stephen Morrison.

China’s emergence as a rising global power garners increasing attention, much in Asia, but increasingly also in Africa. China’s new strategic partnership with Africa, unveiled at the November 2006 Beijing Summit of the Forum on Chi - na and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), marks an historic moment in China-Africa relations. China’s highest leadership actively espoused FOCAC’s ambitious vi - sion, which was enthusiastically embraced by 43 heads of state and a total of 48 African delegations. Following the summit, senior Chinese officials, including President Hu Jin - tao and then-Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing visited 15 different African countries within the first quarter of 2007. Assistant Minister Zhai Jun’s visit to Sudan, and the subsequent appointment of Ambassador Liu Guijin as China’s special envoy for Darfur, in April and May 2007 respectively, drew considerable press attention. These steps are reflective of Beijing’s acute sensitivities and perceived need to make a much higher diplomatic investment to work with the interna - tional community in moving the Annan Plan forward. 1 At this early stage, how - ever, there is no guarantee for success with Beijing’s approach. While Khartoum has expressed its intention to comply with the Annan Plan, its commitment to follow through is uncertain. As such, Beijing remains vulnerable to continued criticism from advocacy groups concerned with Darfur for enabling Khartoum’s intransigence.