Volume 13 Issue 1

This study explores the intellectual evolution from traditional finance to sustainable and green finance through a bibliometric and comparative analysis. It is based on peer-reviewed articles indexed in Web of Science Core Collection published in English between 1990 and 2026. Through this approach, the paper maps the development of sustainable and green finance research, highlighting key thematic clusters and identifying areas where traditional and sustainable and green finance converge. The findings reveal a complex but fragmented scientific landscape. Traditional finance remains highly concentrated around a small set of core journals and authors, reflecting its maturity and theoretical consolidation. In contrast, sustainable finance shows moderate concentration, while green finance is more dispersed, highlighting its interdisciplinary and evolving nature. Keyword co-occurrence and temporal analyses indicate a significant rise in sustainability and green topics, especially after 2015, driven by increasing global attention to environmental and social challenges. Despite their shared relevance, the interaction between these three streams remains limited. Each based on its own theoretical fundaments, applies distinct methodological tools and responds to different policy and regulatory environments.

Africa possesses substantial natural wealth, yet persistent gaps between resource abundance and human development outcomes highlight structural constraints to inclusive growth. This article examines the developmental implications of China's expanding economic engagement in Africa, assessing whether it constitutes a catalyst for structural transformation or reinforces patterns of dependency. Over the past two decades, China has become one of Africa's principal economic partners through foreign direct investment, infrastructure financing, trade expansion, and institutional cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation. Chinese investments in ports, railways, energy systems, and industrial zones have addressed critical infrastructure deficits, reduced trade costs, and supported regional integration. However, trade relations remain asymmetrical, with African exports concentrated in primary commodities and imports dominated by manufactured goods, contributing to persistent trade imbalances. Resource-backed lending and rising debt exposure further raise concerns regarding fiscal sustainability and long-term developmental impact. The findings suggest that infrastructure financing alone does not guarantee sustained economic growth; outcomes depend on governance quality, institutional capacity, export diversification, and industrial upgrading. Ultimately, the developmental trajectory of China–Africa relations is contingent upon African policy choices and the effective transformation of external capital into inclusive, resilient economic structures.