Chinese and African Perspectives on China in Africa

Edited by Axel Harneit-Sievers, Stephen Marks, Sanusha Naidu

The deepening engagement of China in Africa since the end of the cold war has led to debates about the evolving nature of this relationship. Yet the focus of analysis has largely been confined to the interactions between states. Little attention has been paid to the growing dialogue between Chinese and African civil society organizations. This collection of essays, written by scholars and activists, explores the interaction between African and Chinese non-state actors and argues that the future of Africa-China relations rests on including such voices if a robust and vibrant engagement and a meaningful relationship are to be sustained.

Chinese and African Perspectives on China in Africa assesses China’s activities in Africa through patterns of investment, legal cooperation, effects on the environment, trade, aid and labour links, questions of peace, security and stability, the African Union response, possible regulatory interventions and the future strengthening of an Africa–China CSO dialogue.

Contents

Introduction Axel Harneit-Sievers, Sanusha Naidu and Stephen Marks

Part I Ongoing debates
African studies in China: a historiographical survey
Li Anshan

China in Africa: a maturing of the engagement?
Sanusha Naidu

Matching China’s activities with Africa’s needs
Sanou Mbaye

Part II Macroeconomic dimensions
China’s strategic relations with Africa
Zeng Qiang

Chinese development assistance to Africa: aid, trade and debt
Nancy Dubosse

Trade, investment and legal cooperation between China and Africa
Hong Yonghong

Part III Country case studies
Ethio-China relations: challenges and prospects
Gedion Gamora and K. Mathews

China’s impact on Kenya’s clothing industry
Paul Kamau

The impact of Chinese imports on Nigerian traders
Edwin Ikhuoria

The dragon is not green enough: the potential environmental impact of Chinese investment in the DRC
Claude Kabemba

Disappearing forests, disappearing hope: Mozambique
Daniel Ribeiro

The West’s retreat and China’s advance in Angola
Elias Isaac

Part IV China, the African Union and the quest for peace
The Darfur issue and China’s role
He Wenping

The role of China in peace and security in Africa
Desire Assogbavi

The role and place of the African Union in the emerging China– Africa partnership
Francis Ikome

Part V Perspectives for civil society participation
Chinese perceptions of African CSOs: how should African CSOs engage China?
Xiao Yuhua

Sino-African relations: reflections on civil society engagement
Antony Otieno Ong’ayo

The Global Environmental Institute: regulating the ecological impact of Chinese overseas enterprises
Zhi Yingbiao and Bai Jie

Conclusion
China–African civil society dialogue in perspective
Axel Harneit-Sievers, Li Anshan, Sanusha Naidu and Stephen Marks

About the Authors

Axel Harneit-Sievers is a political scientist and historian specialising in African and development studies.

Stephen Marks is a freelance researcher, writer and consultant in economic development, human rights, planning, and the environment.

Sanusha Naidu is the research director of the China in Africa project with Fahamu in South Africa.