Seminar: Fremtiden for Kina i Afrika – alternativ for fred og udvikling?

TIME: Monday, 24 September, 13.00 – 15.20

VENUE: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, Strandgade 71, ground floor, Christianshavn, 1401 Copenhagen K

TIME: Monday, 24 September, 13.00 – 15.20

VENUE: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, Strandgade 71, ground floor, Christianshavn, 1401 Copenhagen K

The fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held this July in Beijing. In his keynote address to visiting African heads of state, ministers and other dignitaries, Chinese President Hu Jintao promised Africa USD 20 billion in financial assistance, training programs and people-to-people exchanges, regional infrastructure partnerships, and a deeper cooperation on peace and security.

In the twelve years since the very first FOCAC in 2000, China has become Africa’s largest trading partner with two-way trade reaching over USD 166 billion in 2011.

Chinese policy banks are now major sources of finance for African governments. Chinese companies are investing in Africa’s natural resources, infrastructure, manufacturing, and agriculture.

But after over a decade of such remarkable growth in trade and investment, what does the future hold for the relationship between China and Africa?

Can China achieve a sustainable development impact in Africa?

Nearly a year after the Busan DAC summit, can it work together with OECD donors to foster new forms of cooperation with African governments and organizations? How is Beijing’s role in African peace and security evolving?

China has shown it can do plenty in Africa to date. This seminar explores how relations have been changing and what directions we can expect the relationship to head in the future.

Speakers:

– Zhang Chun, Deputy Director, Department for West Asia and Africa Studies, Shanghai Institutes of International Studies
– Tatiana Carayannis, Deputy Director, Conflict Prevention and Peace Forum, Social Science Research Council
– Johanna Jansson, PhD Candidate, Roskilde University
– Daniel Large, Research Associate, South African Institute of International Affairs, China in Africa Programme
– Peter Kragelund, Associate Professor, Roskilde University
– Bjørn Møller, Professor, Aalborg University
– Luke Patey, Postdoc, DIIS

Programme:

13.00-13.10: Introduction; Luke Patey, Postdoc, DIIS

13.10-13.30: Transitions in Sino-African Relations and the Future of Africa-China-OECD Cooperation; Zhang Chun, Deputy Director, Department for West Asia and Africa Studies, Shanghai Institutes of International Studies

13.30-13.50: New Directions in China-Africa Knowledge, Production and Networks; Tatiana Carayannis, Deputy Director, Conflict Prevention and Peace Forum, Social Science Research Council

13.50-14.10: Open Discussion

Chair: Peter Kragelund, Associate Professor, Roskilde University

14.10-14.20: Coffee Break

14.20-14.30: An Alternative to the IMF or a Once-Off Challenge? China as Development Finance Provider to the Democratic Republic of Congo; Johanna Jansson, PhD Candidate, Roskilde University

14.30-14.50: A Separate Peace? China’s Post-Conflict Engagement in Africa; Daniel Large, Research Associate, South African Institute of International Affairs, China in Africa Programme

14.50-15.20: Open Discussion

Chair: Bjørn Møller, Professor, Aalborg University

The seminar will be held in English.

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Read more about the seminar and use the online registration form on the website no later than Friday, 21 September at 12.00 noon.

Please await confirmation by e-mail from DIIS for participation.