Chinese aid to Africa, if one relies on the somewhat disjointed announcements in the press, is very difficult to measure, and it is important to establish a typology of this aid in order to gain a better understanding of how it operates. There is also an increasingly urgent need to have a clearer picture of China's positioning in the area of the global governance of aid. China defends the singularities and virtues of its South-South cooperation. If Western nations wish to engage in a dialogue with China concerning its aid to Africa, they will need to make an effort to grasp the conceptual foundations of Chinese aid policy. While the Chinese are very familiar with the workings of Western aid and know how to take advantage of its shortcomings, the reverse is at present far from being the case.