This paper attempts to analyze the changes happening to ideas about economic growth in the developing world through a study of discourse on China's engagement in Africa and its influences. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the specter of an “emerging China” gave rise to much controversy among the leaders of advanced Western countries. In particular, China’s investment in Africa attracted much negative attention. Before the 2000s, Africa was considered a place that absorbed vast amounts of foreign aid but was not attractive for making profitable investments. Thus, some suspected that, for China, increasing political influence or grabbing control over natural resources might be the real purpose of their investment, rather than business projects. In contrast to many Western opinions, some African countries are welcoming China’s economic engagement in Africa. It seems to be an appropriate strategy for economic prosperity to accept Chinese investment and construct better infrastructure. In fact, Chinese-built roads and bridges make businesses and people’s lives in Africa more efficient and convenient, and have brought them more opportunities. It is not only China’s economic engagement in Africa but also its growing influence in global society that attracts African states. For China’s part, it is necessary and crucial to spread investment and influence into Africa to realize an ideal transformation of the country’s economic diplomacy.