The symbolism of President Barack Obama’s recent trip to Africa was clear — the first African American president visiting the continent. And with Nelson Mandela, the former political prisoner and later president of South Africa, on life support, there was added emotion and symbolism.

But Obama’s three-country tour was about far more than symbolism. It was about economic development and growth opportunities for U.S. companies. Obama was correct to send the message that the old view, the old relationship between the U.S. and Africa — one based on aid alone — has to change.

Obama said during his trip that he envisions “a new model that’s based not just on aid and assistance, but on trade and partnership.” He’s right.

The continent is rich in natural resources, including oil, natural gas and minerals. It has a young and growing population, meaning a growing market to fuel economic growth and buy American products.

Africa has about 1 billion people and more than 60 percent are under the age of 35. Estimates are that by 2050, nearly one-quarter of the world’s workforce will be in Africa. And already, six of the ten fastest-growing economies are in Africa.

With economic growth in the U.S. still sluggish and slowdowns being seen in China and Brazil, Africa represents great opportunities for future growth.

As new as this message might be to many Americans, it’s not new in China.

In fact, some might argue that Obama is several years too late in stressing a need for trade and partnerships. It might even be argued that a message of economic development in Africa should have begun during the presidency of George W. Bush.

China is in Africa in a big way — and has been for decades. There are an estimated 750,000 Chinese living and working in Africa. Most people see China primarily interested in controlling Africa’s natural resources. China’s domestic growth will require more oil, natural gas, minerals and food production than can be produced at home.

Foreign trade figures from Tanzania put things in perspective. Last year, trade between the U.S. and Tanzania was about $360 million — while China and Tanzania did about $2.7 billion in trade during the same year. That shows how far — and fast — the U.S. has to move to avoid letting China control much of the entire continent.

Obama’s primary economic development pitch during his visit was dubbed “Power Africa” and is intended to help bring electricity to the two-thirds of Africans without access to power for lights or appliances.

As primitive as that scenario sounds, progress might come very quickly compared to electrification in other countries. The example for that prediction is cell phones. Not many years ago, Africa lacked a decent communication system. The continent did not have a network of telephone poles and wires strung across thousands of miles of countriside. But with the arrival of cellular phones, Africa leapfrogged the wired world. There was no need to build a system of wires and poles, so the continent jumped into creating a cellular network. Today, there are more cellular phones in Africa than in the United States and Canada combined.

Americans need a new view of Africa. It offers huge opportunities for trade and growth. But with the decade or two head start enjoyed by the Chinese, it will take major efforts for the United States to catch up and come close to matching the Chinese footprint and influence in Africa.

It’s not a return to the old days of colonialism, it’s a partnership approach.

Obama was right to highlight the need for the United States to shift its relationship with Africa. The continent and its people have to be viewed in a new light, otherwise an opportunity for global economic growth and lifting the people of Africa will be missed — or will be controlled by the Chinese.