Please watch the video above. It is is a unique discussion on Alexander’s Hamilton’s contributions to economic progress through examiningthe policies of China, Africa, and the U.S.
September 3, 2026
China believes it is better to contribute to the development of African nations, to not have their populations suffer in poverty, but rather experience a continuous rising standard of living. The West does not!
Contrary to constant maligning of China by the West, accusing it of conducting a new form of colonialism against the people of Africa, China has been an indispensable partner for development. There is not and never has been a “debt-trap “ policy to seize mineral resources of African nations. Any American official repeating this defamation is either an ignorant fool or a liar. The West dominated the African continent for decades, while China has only recently in this century, expanded its involvement with the nations of Africa. The creation by China, of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2003, has established a unique political, economic cooperative relationship with African nations.
As Alexander Hamilton understood, and his followers of his school of economic thought, which became known as the American System of Political Economy knew, the key to the growth of a nation, and its economy, is to increase the productive powers of labor. This requires a growth in manufacturing, it requires massive investments in infrastructure, and it requires nurturing the creativity of the population to discover new scientific principles, from which new technologies are derived. With the application of new technological advancements, the economy is able to leap, if you will, to a higher level of productivity, generating greater economic output.
This is what should be understood by Western officials. There are people in China who think this way. Presently, we don’t have people in the West, and the United States in particular, who refuse to comprehend these essential elements of economic growth. The Western political-financial elites are mired in a monetarist world dominated by making money, which they foolishly believe is wealth. They lack any understanding of what the requirements are to actually develop an economy physically, nor the necessity to promote a culture that fosters the creative potential of its people. They don’t understand the difference between making a so called profit from monetary speculation, the stock market, or manipulating the market, as opposed to increasing the profitability of the physical economy. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is attacked by the United States and the West, who fail to comprehend that the BRI is a modern day extension of Hamilton’s economic principles.
China has proved, beyond any question, that their investments in science and technology, infrastructure, and manufacturing in particular, have transformed their economy, their society. With the proven reality of this success, China can lead the Global South on a pathway of real economic development
The African continent is projected to have the largest population in the world-approximately 2.5 billion people by 2050. That’s not a burden. It is a resource of new creative minds, which are the real source of value for any economy, more valuable than minerals or artificial intelligence.
I believe watching this video will help you understand these principles that I have outlined above.
Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, who has been involved in economic development policies for Africa for 35 years. He is a teacher, writer, public speaker, consultant on Africa, and an analyst of global strategic relations. Mr. Freeman strongly believes that economic development is an essential human right. He is the creator of the blog: lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com, also publishes on: lawrencefreeman.substack.com, “Freeman’s Africa and the World, and on X@lkfreemansafrica
View my discussion in the video above from July 30, with Grace Asagra on her podcast, Quantum Nurse.
August 20, 2026
Please view my video interview above, which is my first discussion since my three-week visit to several cities in China during June and July. I encourage all citizens, especially of the United States to visit China and see for yourself this interesting, shall I say fascinating society, with its rich culture and history, and its engaging people. This is the best way to protect your mind from being brainwashed by the anti-China propaganda spewed forth by U.S. media and our silly and ignorant politicians from both the Democratic and Republican parties.
The reporting of China by the West, in particular the U.S., completely mischaracterizes this dynamic society with its mixture of former dynasties and ultra-modern cities that have emerged in China over recent decades. Most of what the U.S. establishment reports about China he is unfortunately contaminated with the zero-sum mentality of their rules-based international order. China has a different perspective for the world world, which is based on the idea of creating a common future for mankind.
Their development has been phenomenal over the last forty plus years since the opening up of China. China has become the leading nation in manufacturing, in high speed rail construction, in robotics, in nuclear fission energy production, in ship building, and in mining of critical and rare earth minerals. As well, a leading nation in space exploration, fusion research, and chip technology. In 2013, China reached out to the rest of the world with the Belt and Road initiative, which has eagerly been received by the Global South. In Africa, where the West was dominant in its control over the continent after the liberation movements of the 1960s, they did not invest in the future of Africa, they looted it of its natural resources. China has pursued a different policy. In this century, China has invested in Africa’s infrastructure, especially electricity and railroads. This cannot be denied. U.S. propaganda that China has used so called debt-trap diplomacy to seize African assets or its mineral resources is simply not true
It is crucial that political leaders in the West and thoughtful citizens in the United States and Europe, recognize that the western controlled system known as the rules-based order is declining, and the world is shifting towards development of the Global South. With this transformation taking place today, we should be wise enough to recognize that cooperating with China is in the self-interest of the United States and its citizens. We should define future missions of collaboration with China that will advance civilization, such as; the elimination of poverty in Africa, the colonization of the moon, and the full scale use of nuclear fusion energy. This is what American statesman and leaders should do.
The pillars of progress for all nations are universally identical: satisfying the material needs of the population and nurturing their minds through stimulating economic development, creativity, and agape in society.
All of this is discussed in my hour long podcast above, which I strongly recommend you view. I believe you will benefit.
Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, who has been involved in economic development policies for Africa for 35 years. He is a teacher, writer, public speaker, consultant on Africa, and an analyst of global strategic relations. Mr. Freeman strongly believes that economic development is an essential human right. He is the creator of the blog: lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com, also publishes on: lawrencefreeman.substack.com, “Freeman’s Africa and the World, and on X@lkfreemansafrica
Editor’s Note: For years, the US has viewed China as a rival in Africa and sought to cast a shadow over China-Africa cooperation with misleading narratives such as the “China shock.” Against this backdrop, the overseas edition of the People’s Daily (PD) interviewed Lawrence Freeman (Freeman), an American international affairs expert, political economic analyst for Africa, who recently traveled across multiple Chinese cities with his wife. With 30 years of experience on the African continent, Freeman calls for abandoning Cold War thinking and zero-sum competition, stresses the importance of China-US cooperation in advancing global development, and shares his perspective on how the American public should view China.
PD: The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has provided substantial support to Africa’s infrastructure development and economic and social progress. As an expert on African issues, what tangible changes do you believe the BRI has brought to African nations?
Freeman: Africa has long been plagued by a huge infrastructure gap. China has offered tremendous assistance to a great many African countries through the BRI. For decades, I have been deeply involved in work related to the development of Africa. The Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway was constructed by China, and the Port of Djibouti was built with Chinese aid. Without China’s participation, Africa’s development would likely not have advanced so rapidly. China has extended credit support to Africa and built a large number of hospitals, schools, roads, ports, airports, railways and power plants. While Africa’s demand remains huge, China’s contributions are highly commendable.
The BRI enlightens us that mutual benefit and win-win cooperation is the right path forward. More than 370 years ago, the Peace of Westphalia established the principles of equality and sovereignty. In the course of history that followed, sovereign equality has evolved into the most important norm governing state-to-state relations. The prosperity and development of all countries are in the fundamental interests of the US itself. As other countries grow their economies, they will create more economic and trade opportunities for the US. We should break free from outdated, rigid and backward mindsets, discard the logic of win-lose, confrontation and conquest versus subjugation, and embrace a higher vision of development, replacing mutual confrontation with common development.
Lawrence Freeman Photo: He Jianing/People’s Daily
PD: China has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. It has also rolled out poverty reduction programs in Africa through cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other channels. What lessons can Africa draw from China’s poverty reduction model and practices?
Freeman: From what I have learned about China’s development journey, a key driver of its rapid growth is large-scale infrastructure investment. China’s high-speed railway network now exceeds 50,000 kilometers in operation, surpassing the combined total of all other countries in the world. China has built a vast number of new energy power stations, including thermal power, nuclear power and other types.
China has a clear, complete path to poverty alleviation and development: It boasts the world’s largest and fast-growing manufacturing sector; its shipbuilding industry leads the globe, and it is also at the forefront of space exploration. Large-scale infrastructure development, emphasis on scientific and technological R&D and the rapid expansion of manufacturing are core factors behind economic growth and poverty eradication. China’s poverty reduction practices have proven practical and effective. All the African countries I work with are eager to learn from China’s experience and fully master this development model. I believe Africa can fully draw on China’s successful experience.
PD: Today, humanity faces multiple global challenges, including climate change, regional conflicts, poverty and public health crises. In your view, how can international cooperation help tackle these problems?
Freeman: The Western world is currently in the grip of a severe crisis, lacking long-term development visions and blueprints. China has put forward the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity, calling for attention to the common interests of all people, which is of great significance. Mankind needs to establish a new development paradigm centered on development, which is also the direction of my long-term research. The world is never a zero-sum game; the essence of human development is pioneering and progress-driven.
All countries take the well-being of their people as their fundamental goal. To achieve this, we must first meet people’s basic material needs – housing, employment, electricity, sound infrastructure – so that everyone can live a decent and meaningful life. Only when people have sufficient leisure time can creativity be cultivated. For instance, China produced great philosopher Confucius, and the West had Socrates and Plato. But, weighed down by the pressures of daily life, few people study these classics today, leading to biased perceptions and the conflicts that follow.
Most conflicts in today’s world are rooted in poverty. When people cannot live stable, dignified lives, strife and plunder emerge. If the US, China and all countries work together to build a new development paradigm and steadily raise living standards across the globe, most causes of war will disappear. If the whole world can eliminate absolute poverty as China has done, the lives of all humanity will be fundamentally transformed for the better.
PD: China-US relations are among the most important bilateral relations in the world. This year, the two sides jointly set a new orientation for China-US relations: building a “constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability.” How do you interpret this positioning?
Freeman: The Chinese government has stressed that the “constructive strategic stability” should be a positive stability with cooperation as the mainstay, a sound stability with moderate competition, a constant stability with manageable differences and an enduring stability with promises of peace. Previous US policies toward China, however, were imbued with the dangerous zero-sum game mindset, which I believe lacks careful consideration. The US should take the initiative to identify areas for China-US cooperation. As the world’s two largest economies, China and the US can carry out joint cooperation projects that benefit the people of both countries and all nations around the world.
We met senior citizens singing and dancing in a Shanghai park in morning.
PD: What areas of cooperation between China and the US do you think have the most promising prospects for tangible implementation?
Freeman: The first is research and development of controlled nuclear fusion energy. China is a global leader in nuclear fusion, having achieved stable plasma operation for over 1,000 seconds. The US shelved its nuclear fusion programs decades ago, but nuclear fusion represents the future of energy development, delivering far higher energy output than existing nuclear fission power plants of the same scale. It is still not too late for China and the US to collaborate in this field.
The second is space exploration. The US has spent an extremely long time preparing for its return to the Moon. China has already achieved a soft landing of a probe on the far side of the Moon. Human civilization advances through scientific exploration. Space exploration benefits all of humanity, and the two sides have every reason to cooperate in this area.
The third is joint efforts to eliminate poverty and famine in Africa. If China and the US work together to boost Africa’s development and raise local living standards, the continent will become a global economic and trade hub, benefiting the entire world.
PD: You and your wife have recently visited many cities across China. What are your impressions of the Chinese people and Chinese society?
Freeman: There is one moment that sticks in my mind: I once met a little boy, and I said “Nihao” to him. He immediately replied “Hello.” We chatted freely in English the whole time, and the passersby around us were all delighted. It was such a warm, charming scene – an elderly American chatting effortlessly with a young Chinese boy.
While I was attending conferences, my wife took the subway alone to visit aquariums and museums. Friends back home were all shocked and asked me: Are you sure it’s safe for her to go out by herself? My wife and I felt perfectly safe throughout our stay in China. I think more ordinary Americans should set aside their prejudices and come to China to experience it for themselves. Trust what you see with your own eyes, not rumors.
PD: How has public opinion in the US and China toward each other changed over the years?
Freeman: Today, as China’s comprehensive strength grows steadily, the Chinese people can see the fruits of development with their own eyes and feel progress across all areas firsthand. As a result, more young Chinese people no longer look up to foreign countries as they once did; instead, they view them on an equal footing.
Held back by weaknesses in basic education and a lack of global perspective, American society does not have an objective understanding of China. Many Americans fear China for no reason and always ask me strange questions: “Aren’t you afraid to go to China?” I am puzzled: “What’s there to be afraid of?” This is the misunderstanding and prejudice born out of ignorance about China. In recent years, with China relaxing its visa policies and lowering the threshold for long-term visas, it has become easier for many Americans to visit China, which is a great opportunity to enhance mutual understanding.
Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, who has been involved in economic development policies for Africa for 35 years. He is a teacher, writer, public speaker, consultant on Africa, and an analyst of global strategic relations. Mr. Freeman strongly believes that economic development is an essential human right. He is the creator of the blog: lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com, also publishes on: lawrencefreeman.substack.com, “Freeman’s Africa and the World, and on X@lkfreemansafrica
In my thirty minute discussion on OBN, with Addis Assefa, I outline the fundamental national interests of Ethiopia and how to achieve them.April 10, 2026.
June 21, 2026
The government of Ethiopia has two primary obligations to its citizens. One, to adopt policies that lead to a continuous improvement in the standard of living of the entire population. Two, to safeguard and preserve the integrity of Ethiopia as a nation state, emphasizing the quality of Ethiopian citizenship as opposed to a so called ethnic-nationalist identity.
The vulnerabilities to the Ethiopian state, like any nation, emanate from lack of economic development of its society. Poor people become desperate people, and desperate people can be manipulated to act against the interest of their nation. Therefore, government must initiate policies and programs that significantly reduce, if not eliminate poverty, and substantially raise the wages of its citizens. A national development agenda that is inclusive of all regions and ethnicities of Ethiopia is the best method for achieving Ethiopia’s two fundamental national interests. If citizens perceive that their government is pursuing efforts to improve their lives they will respond supportively.
The creation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the GERD, is not only a singular accomplishment for Ethiopia and its people, but for all of Africa. It indicates the potential of Ethiopia to address other economic and societal challenges. It provides desperately needed electricity, not only to Ethiopia but to other nations in East Africa. While Addis Ababa has been transformed over the last decade, other regions of Ethiopia require the same attention and infusions of infrastructure. Agriculture has vastly improved, especially in wheat production, through farm collectives and the expanded use of irrigation. Manufacturing has increased, but Ethiopia, like every nation who desires to achieve economic sovereignty, requires a robust indigenous manufacturing sector.
Ethiopian diaspora correctly supported the government of Abiy Ahmed in its two year war against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). If this regime-change war initiated by the TPLF had been successful, the nation of Ethiopia would have been destroyed, leaving behind warring ethnic fiefdoms. Victory by the government of Ethiopia was existential. Following the peace agreement, Ethiopian diaspora in the U.S., with the vast majority of their allies, have lined up in support of one or another of ethnic nationalist groups, who are once again involved in regime change.
Watch my thirty minute discussion above, to understand the best approach for Ethiopia to realize its true national interests
Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, who has been involved in economic development policies for Africa for over 35 years. He is a teacher, writer, public speaker, consultant on Africa, and an analyst of global strategic relations. Mr. Freeman strongly believes that economic development is an essential human right. He is the creator of the blog: lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com, also publishes on: lawrencefreeman.substack.com, “Freeman’s Africa and the World, and on X@lkfreemansafrica
April 10, 2026-Lawrence Freeman speaking at a forum sponsored by “Watch Democracy Grow,” at the National Press Club in Washington DC.
April 20, 2026
Watch my presentation in which I presented a brief overview of the necessity for the long overdue industrialization of Africa. This would require massive investments in infrastructure, especially in the manufacturing sector. Colonialism, neocolonialism, and the inadequacy l of the global financial institutions, have deprived Africa of these basic elementary building blocks for a developing economy.
I have discussed for many years the necessity of having an institution dedicated to issuing credit for infrastructure. In consultation with my African friends and colleagues we understand the need for the creation of an African infrastructure Development Bank. This institution would have only one lending purpose: providing long-term, low-interest credits for infrastructure. It would be prohibited from paying other outstanding debts or other expenses unrelated to this single objective. The need for such a credit bank is that there are no other financial institutions that will fund long-term investments in infrastructure. The private sector is not capable of making such investments. Although they can make significant contributions to the process of expanding the productive capacity of African economies. Historically, economic development has taken place with state-led industrialization. This has been the case in Europe, Asia, and the United States. The contributions of Alexander Hamilton and Sun Yat sun are exemplary.
Public or government backed credits can be allocated for low interest-rates for long-term loans necessary for infrastructure, particularly in the energy and transportation sectors.
I know that without this credit generating institution of development credits, African nations will not be capable of providing for the daily needs of its citizens. President Franklin Roosevelt understood this. That is why he advocated at the Bretton Woods Conference in July 1944, for the creation of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Sadly, his policies died with him on April 12, 1945. Read: Franklin Roosevelt Intended to Industrialize the ‘Global South’: The Case of Ethiopia
Let me be absolutely clear. Without such a credit bank providing investments in essential, elementary infrastructure, Africa will not become industrialized. Thus, abandoning African nations to be plagued with the failure of abject poverty. However, with such a properly administered credit institution, we can eliminate hunger and poverty in African nations in one generation.
Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, who has been involved in economic development policies for Africa for over 35 years. He is a teacher, writer, public speaker, consultant on Africa, and an analyst of global strategic relations. Mr. Freeman strongly believes that economic development is an essential human right. He is the creator of the blog: lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com, also publishes on: lawrencefreeman.substack.com, “Freeman’s Africa and the World, and on X@lkfreemansafrica
We are now in the fourth week of President Donald Trump’s regime-change war against Iran. There is no country in the world that is benefiting from this preemptive assault on the nation-state of Iran, which includes the potential for an expanding war. It is not in the interest of United States, it is not in the interest of the nations of the Middle East and Gulf, and it is certainly not in the interest of African nations.
No people, no nation, benefit from this neocon policy of military intervention to change and shape weaker governments around the world. In fact, this unnecessary war highlights the failings of the world economy and exposes the weaknesses of the economies of African nations. African nations are now paying more for everything. As I highlighted in the discussion above, the priority, the primary mission for the nations of Africa is: to become industrialized nations. This requires massive investments in infrastructure, in particular the generation of electricity and high-speed rail connectivity. The nations of Africa will always be vulnerable and will always suffer from any disruption in the world economy because their own economies have not been sufficiently developed.
The current Western based rules-based international order, which has dominated the world for four score years with its diseased ideology of zero-sum game winners and losers is collapsing. The focus of the Global South, which Africa is a large component of, should be to create a new political-economic system whose purpose is economic development. This requires, that during this time of extreme crisis, nations should focus on forming alliances with agreement on the critical task of developing their economies. This will require industrialization, massive investments in new infrastructure, and the nurturing of a healthy manufacturing sector that can produce the products needed to raise the standard of living of their people.
Peace through development, which I am advocating, is a more effective and advanced policy than President Trump’s so called peace through strength.
Watch and listen to my unique analysis for Africa in the video above.
Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, who has been involved in economic development policies for Africa for over 35 years. He is a teacher, writer, public speaker, consultant on Africa, and an analyst of global strategic relations. Mr. Freeman strongly believes that economic development is an essential human right. He is the creator of the blog: lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com, also publishes on: lawrencefreeman.substack.com, “Freeman’s Africa and the World, and on X@lkfreemansafrica
Watch my 45 minute discussion on Sunday Politics on Trust TV, Nigeria. Unpacking President Trump’s continuing threats against Nigeria. January 11, 2026
January 13, 2026
In a lengthy interview with the New York Times on January 9, 2026, President Trump threatened more missile attacks on Nigeria. His continued attempt to intimidate Nigeria is based on his false claim that the Nigerian government is allowing genocide against Christians living in Nigeria. This course of action, essentially terrorizing Nigerians with his whimsical threats, is dangerous to all Nigerians, including Christians, as well as to the entire continent of Africa.
After declaring Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern on October 31, President Trump proceeded to threaten to cut one billion USD of aid, and militarily intervene into Nigeria with guns blazing. President Trump claimed this was necessary to save our great Christian population around the world.
To the complete surprise of the people of Nigeria and their government, on Christmas Day, 2025, the U.S. military fired sixteen Tomahawk missiles into the Bauni Forest in the State of Sokoto, northwest Nigeria. The alleged target was the Lakurawa group, a lower level militia that claims affiliation with the Islamic State. This military attack on Nigeria by the so called U.S. Department of War, was a failure, actually impotent, despite claims by the Trump administration that the operation was a complete success that killed multitudes of ISIS fighters.
The concentration of leaders of ISIS is in northeast Nigeria, in Borno State, not in the northwest state of Sokoto.
Four of the sixteen Tomahawk missiles did not explode-a 25% failure rate.
Some of the unexploded missiles were found hundreds of miles from the target.
There is no evidence that any high-level ISIS targets were killed by the missile attack, or even how many.
Yet, President Trump foolishly threatened another missile attack on Nigeria January 9.
Trump’s Motivation
What does President Trump not know about Nigeria? Everything!
He like many American Presidents, knows nothing about African nations. He has no understanding of the complex dynamics of Nigeria, and he doesn’t care about the welfare of 240 million Nigerians. His crusade to save the Christians in Nigeria from genocide is identical to his false campaign to protect white farmers from South African genocide. President Trump is not concerned with Africans, white or black, Christian or Muslim. These are domestically manufactured issues to appease his MAGA white-evangelical base in the U.S.
Consider the fact that Nigeria: has vast reserves of oil and the largest reserves of gas in the world; for the first time in its existence, it is refining and exporting large quantities of its own processed oil; is a partner member nation of the BRICS; has close economic ties with China, with over 20 billion USD invested in Nigeria by China last year.
It is estimated that Nigeria has 37.28 billion barrels of oil and 210.54 trillion cubic feet of gas.
Trump’s Prejudice vs Development
American leaders, both Democratic and Republican, unfortunately have the same unthinking deficiency as President Trump. They all fail to understand that it is in the genuine national self-interest of the U.S., for Nigeria to achieve successful economic growth. American presidents, such as John Kennedy and Franklin Roosevelt, knew the importance of promoting economic development as a fundamental principle of foreign policy. That concept has been forgotten, nay, completely vanished from American lexicon. Presently, the U.S. is bereft of leaders, who comprehend, that raising the standard of living of every Nigerian, indeed all Africans, is a benefit to America’s economy and security.
Unfortunately, President Trump has a deep-seated prejudice regarding the advancement of our civilization. His special advisor, Stephen Miller, put it this way: We live in a world that is governed by force…governed by power…These are the iron laws of the world. This is blatantly untrue. It could never be true. Yet, it is through this perverted lens that President Trump views Nigeria, and Africa. All true statesmen know that civilization is governed by human creativity. The real criminality is President Trump’s betrayal of America’s principles in favor of Thomas Hobbes’ bestial belief of humankind.
Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, who has been involved in economic development policies for Africa for over 35 years. He is a teacher, writer, public speaker, consultant on Africa, and an analyst of global strategic relations. Mr. Freeman strongly believes that economic development is an essential human right. He is the creator of the blog: lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com, also publishes on: lawrencefreeman.substack.com, “Freeman’s Africa and the World, and on X@lkfreemansafrica
Lawrence Freeman addressing the Kuliang Forum, sponsored by People’s Daily, at the Bank of China in New York, on November 25, 2025. Read: China Daily-Kuliang Forum
November 28, 2025
Lawrence Freeman’s keynote presentation:
I thank the Kuliang Forum, Bank of China, and People’s Daily for the opportunity to address you on this important strategic issue. A positive political and economic relationship between China and the United States will help shape the future of our planet.
The world in the last ten years, has undergone significant transformations. We have irrefutably entered a multipolar world and there is no going back. China has massively advanced its economy, lifting over 700 million of its population out of poverty. The BRICS has expanded to ten member nations with ten additional trading partners. The Global South is emerging, creating a new political dynamic in the world. However, the current period that we are living in is fraught with perils. There is a potential of new and more lethal wars, and another financial crisis is on the horizon. How the nations of the world navigate through these troubled times will in large part be determined by the relationship between the two economic super-powers: China and the United States.
Trade Between China and the United States was approximately $600 billion in 2024, which represented almost 2% of world trade, estimated at $33 trillion. The United States is China’s biggest trading partner, and China is the fourth biggest trading partner of the United States, measured in US dollars. China hawks in the United States, who are calling for decoupling between these two economies are clinically insane. The United States could not survive such a separation from the Chinese economy. In this century, China’s manufacturing sector has surged to approximately 30% of world production, while that of the United States has shrunk.
China’s ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, keynoted the morning session of the Kuilang Forum
The political institutions of the United States, the Congress, and the White House, both Democrat and Republican, are obsessed with the belief that China will invade Taiwan in 2027. The United States Defense/War Department is preparing for various scenarios in which the United States will militarily intervene to defend Taiwan from China.
We should be clear: there is no objective justification for such a level of hostility by the United States against China. This enmity by the United Sates is driven by the diseased ideology of the political and financial elites of the West; the so called, rules-based international order. Their view of the world is contaminated by the perverted belief that the world is fixed, and that survival depends on remaining on top as the number one hegemon, with all other nations forced to a lower level of existence. Thus, the foreign policy of the followers of this “zero-sum” mentality is to thwart the development of other nations they perceive as threatening their hegemony, through manipulation, containment, brinkmanship, and if necessary, war.
The good news for civilization is that the world is not fixed. The physical universe is continuously evolving, and as a result of the uniquely human power of creative reason, humankind is constantly developing.
Speaking in Russia in 2013, Chinese president, Xi Jinping, articulated a superior conception of the world: a community with a shared future for mankind. All human beings are universally alike because we all possess the power of creativity. The interest of every nation is the same: to promote the material well-being of its society, and to nurture the power of creativity in its citizens. Therefore, there is a natural harmony between nations. It is in the self-interest of each nation to design a foreign policy that benefits the prosperity of other nations. The 1648 Treaty of Westphalia, which ended the devastating religious wars of Europe, stipulated that nations understand: the benefit of the other is a benefit to thyself.
Ma Hongwei, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, People’s Daily, speaking at the Kuliang Forum.
The collaboration of China and the United States in driving economic growth worldwide will have consequential benefits to the future of civilization. With over 700 million people worldwide living in extreme poverty on our planet, the need for the expansion of physical wealth produced is glaring. To improve the living conditions for both developed and underdeveloped nations will require more than a drastic reform of the current financial system. It will necessitate a new financial architecture, anchored to the creation of a new paradigm committed to real physical economic growth, not monetary profits.
The African continent has approximately 500 million people suffering from extreme poverty. It is the largest number of any continent, and it is increasing yearly. By 2050, Africa’s population is projected to increase to 2.4 billion, one-fourth of the projected world population of 9.6 billion. Unless poverty is eliminated, peace and stability on the continent will not be secured. This means that the rest of the world will not be free from instability. To outflank the zero-sum mindset of the United States, I propose that China and the United States initiate a joint mission to assist African nations in eliminating poverty and ending hunger. Such a commitment by the two largest economies would bond them together through a common objective. It would be a gift for the future of humanity; a noble legacy for each nation. This endeavor, which is entirely feasible, would enhance a long term durable collaboration and friendship between China and the United States.
I hope my presentation will stimulate discussion on this topic.
Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, who has been involved in economic development policies for Africa for 35 years. He is a teacher, writer, public speaker, consultant on Africa, and an analyst of global strategic relations. Mr. Freeman strongly believes that economic development is an essential human right. He is the creator of the blog: lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com, also publishes on: lawrencefreeman.substack.com, “Freeman’s Africa and the World, and on X@lkfreemansafrica
Watch my thirty-eight interview with Worku Asfaw, on November 11. 2025.
November 21, 2023
In this penetrating interview, I discuss Ethiopia’s plight to achieve access to a port on the Red Sea, avoiding war at all costs. We must proceed to create a peaceful solution. That requires that African nations do not internalize the dangerous dogma dominating Western thinking that the world is a “zero-sum game.” African nations should not emulate the West’s diseased ideology of the so called “rules-based international order.” Instead, we should elevate our thinking to a higher domain of mutual economic cooperation that benefits all nations. Nations should no longer get trapped into reacting to the past, to colonial legacies, and instead to create a vision for development for 20-40 years into the future. We should recognize that all nations share a common interest, in which nations understand that the “benefit to the other is a benefit to thy self.” This approach focuses on promoting physical economic growth to all the nations in the region, to lift up millions of Africans suffering from poverty. Poverty is the great destabilizer of African nations, which must be eliminated to create conditions for durable peace and stability.
Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, who has been involved in economic development policies for Africa for 35 years. He is a teacher, writer, public speaker, consultant on Africa, and an analyst of global strategic relations. Mr. Freeman strongly believes that economic development is an essential human right. He is the creator of the blog: lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com, also publishes on: lawrencefreeman.substack.com, “Freeman’s Africa and the World, and on X@lkfreemansafrica
On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Mathew Ehret (risingtidefoundation.net), and Lawrence Freeman, dissected what is behind Predesign Trump’s fallacious accusation of genocide against Christians in Nigeria.
November 16, 2025
There is no honest justification for President Trump to threaten Nigeria with false allegations of genocide. As you can see below, both the Nigerian government and the African Union have rejected this claim. A unilateral military intervention by the U.S. Department of War would be an egregious violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty. It would also pose a security challenge not just to Nigeria, but to all of West Africa, with consequences that could rival President Obama’s regime change of Libya’s government in 2011.
If President Trump was actually seriously concerned with the security challenge in Nigeria, he should address the underlying problem: massive poverty. It is reported that Nigeria has 129 million people living in extreme poverty, which is more an 18% of the world poverty total of 700 million living on $3 USD per day or less. Africa as a whole has almost 500 million people living in poverty. Nigeria is energy starved with less than 10,000 megawatts of electricity for almost 240 billion citizens. Nigeria’s population is projected to reach 450 million by the year 2050, a mere one generation from now.
As long as these levels of physical existence continue to exist and do not drastically improve through massive investments in infrastructure, Nigeria will suffer needless killings. Poverty breeds desperation, and desperate people will drive criminality and violent extremism. Instead of threatening Nigeria, the United States should form a partnership with Nigeria for economic development. If President Trump wants to leave behind a truly noble legacy, he would propose to President Xi Jinping, a joint mission led by the U.S. and China to eliminate poverty, and hunger across the African continent
In the video interview with Sky News, Nigerian government Minister of communications Mohammed Idris said, “We believe they are getting a better understanding of the situation. We also believe that the information being peddled is as a result of a lack of a proper understanding of Nigeria’s diversity and the complexity of our security situation.”
Nigerian government Minister of communications Mohammedrejects accusations of genocide against Christians in Nigeria. Watch his interview with Sky News,
Watch the video below in which the African Union supports the Nigerian government in rejecting the allegation of genocide in Nigeria.
Below is my interview with Trust TV in Nigeria on November 9, 2025
“Trump’s Intervention in Nigeria Would Be the Stupidest, Foolish Move He Has Done”—Lawrence Freeman
Freeman, who has visited Nigeria more than 16 times since 1994 and worked closely with government officials, military leaders, and development projects, emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of insecurity. His work includes supporting initiatives like the Transaqua Project to restore Lake Chad and participating in conferences aimed at promoting economic growth and regional stability. He stressed that policies focused on development and poverty reduction are better suited to curbing violent extremism than military action.
“Now, when you start military activity, kinetic warfare, you then open up a whole potential of disasters. With Trump’s intervention, he would be in the same league as President Obama, who destroyed Northern Africa and essentially helped Boko Haram and AQIM grow by overthrowing Gaddafi in October 2011, 14 years ago. Would Trump’s actions reproduce that same effect throughout West Africa? It’s possible. It would be the stupidest, foolish move that Trump has done. I don’t think it will occur, but because I think he’s a little bit unstable mentally, there is a potential that it could occur. We have to do everything we can now to prevent it by proposing solutions and alternate policies, such as promoting economic growth for Nigeria, which would eliminate much of the poverty that fuels violent extremism,” Freeman said.
In an interview on Trust TV, Lawrence Freeman said that initiating military action in Nigeria could trigger major instability across the region. He pointed to past interventions in Northern Africa, which produced unintended consequences, and warned that a US-led military operation could destabilize Nigeria and fuel violent extremism in West Africa. U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats toward Nigeria could have serious consequences, according to American analyst Lawrence Freeman. opr.news
Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, who has been involved in economic development policies for Africa for 35 years. He is a teacher, writer, public speaker, consultant on Africa, and an analyst of global strategic relations. Mr. Freeman strongly believes that economic development is an essential human right. He is the creator of the blog: lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com, also publishes on: lawrencefreeman.substack.com, “Freeman’s Africa and the World, and on X@lkfreemansafrica
