The “Go abroad” policy was partly aimed at increasing Chinese merger and acquisition activities abroad, however China did not make any material investments in Africa in the 1990s. Sino-African trade increased significantly as the government energetically promoted investment in Africa after 2002 as part of the same policy. China’s economic relationship deepened further as President Hu Jintao in 2004 announced a drive to reinforce relations with Africa, which led to rapidly strengthening trade links between China and the African countries.