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Chinese investments in African oil, gas, and mineral resources have made headlines in western newspapers and trade publications over the past couple years. But the Chinese government is also stepping up efforts to promote cultural, educational and other kinds of exchange on the African continent – much as the US has done with its Peace Corps volunteers for decades. BON'S MATT SCHRADER takes us into a program that has launched China's first educational exchange with Ghana.

With China-Africa relations, it's easy to get caught up in the statistics and the headlines. But, as BON's Tony Zhou explains, it is possible to put a human face on the relationship between these giants.

Sometimes the numbers are just staggering. At the beginning of this year, China-Africa trade hit more than 100 billion dollars annually. By contrast, U.S.-Africa trade is not projected to hit that amount for at least another year. Look at that statistic, and you’ll understand why so many African nations are turning to Beijing instead of Washington.

As of now, China is the single biggest investor and the biggest builder of infrastructure in Africa. The projects have included railroads, hotels, pipelines, schools, hospitals, and roads. Lots of roads. And this year's plans are calling for even more investment, not just from state-owned enterprises but also private companies.

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