African leaders are converging in China this week for an anticipated high-level meeting with President Xi Jinping as Beijing continues to befriend and expand its influence on the continent amid a silent face-off with Western countries.

The China-Africa summit, which will last from September 4 to 6, will see leaders of African countries meet and discuss policies and cooperation agreements with officials from the continent’s biggest lender and investor. Those agreements will set the tone for the two side’s burgeoning relations for the next few years.