A recent report published by researchers from the World Bank and several academic institutions describes China as an emerging lender of rescue loans over the past two decades. Analyzing 128 rescue loans worth $240 billion, the report sets out some distinctions between Chinese lending and lending by other governments and

A new report by a pair of scholars looks at Chinese lending in Latin America and the Caribbean, concluding that while loan amounts remain low by historical standards, the increase in lending this year "is indicative of continued Chinese interest in establishing strong diplomatic ties across the region."

World Bank lending to China was in the news twice last week, as the outgoing President of the World Bank discussed it in an interview and a group of U.S. Senators introduced legislation on the issue.

U.S. Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen's recent statements on China being a "barrier" to resolving the debt issues in Zambia provoked a harsh response from the Chinese government.

This week, China's new Foreign Minister Qin Gang is visiting Africa to "deepen the China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership and boost friendly cooperation between China and Africa."

Last week, China and Ecuador announced an agreement to restructure Ecuador's $4.4 billion in outstanding debt, and also advanced trade talks and said they hoped to reach a trade deal by December.