The growth of Sino-Algerian economic relations since the early 2000s underscored China’s successful global expansion and its rising importance as alternative partner for the North African country. Tighter economic partnership also signalled Algerian fascination for the China model of development which, unlike neoliberal recipes, put the state at the centre of its strategy. But while the authorities in both countries praised their win-win cooperation, Algerian scholars also highlighted its fault lines. In fact, trade exchanges and the impact of Chinese companies on Algerian industrial complex reflect an asymmetric relation rather than a mutually beneficial partnership.