The depth and form of China’s engagement with Africa is well-established in the resource sector and reflected in its trade, investment and diplomacy towards the region. Coupled with the growing diversity of Chinese actors present in the continent - which ranges from state-owned enterprises to small-scale entrepreneurs - the expanding Chinese presence in Africa provides insights into the dynamics that are evident in other resource-rich developing regions such as Latin America. This article examines in detail China’s role in Africa, with particular emphasis on South Africa, and considers how these experiences might reflect emerging trends in Chinese-Latin American relations.