China's increasing investment in Africa has included support for Morocco, Tunisia, and Sudan.
Morocco was the second country on the African continent to establish diplomatic ties with China. More than 50 years later, the two remain friendly. China has shown support for Morocco on the touchy issue of disputed territory in the Western Sahara.
Morocco is the only country boycotting the Peace Prize event that doesn't fall into Freedom House's "not free" category. But the organization says freedom is on the decline because of an increasing concentration of power in the hands of elites tied to the monarchy. The media also face censorship.
As with Morocco, Egypt has received military and development aid in the billions since 1975, and has seen trade also grow – to some $5.86 billion in 2009, according to The Daily Telegraph. Egypt pledged closer military-to-military co-operation with China in March.
At a time of human rights concerns about Sudan's government, heavy Chinese investment in Sudan's oil is big business for Khartoum.
The small Northern Africa country of Tunisia, meanwhile, has been actively trying to woo Chinese investment and tourism.
