In a subtle yet important recognition of the burgeoning chasm between Chinese and African civil societies, one of China’s most prominent Africa scholars, Dr. Liu Haifang from Beijing University, called on scholars and other researchers to step back from the various crises that have recently shaken the relationship, pause for a moment of reflection and then provide a more well-rounded view of Africa to the Chinese public.

“We must respond to the Chinese public’s need for knowledge about the outside world, and show them, Africa, from an objective and equal perspective,” she said in a recent Chinese language column that was translated and re-published on the Panda Paw, Dragon Claw blog.