China’s Vice President Han Zheng addressed the UN General Assembly on Thursday. Along with retreads of established Chinese positions on Taiwan, Ukraine, and the Israel/Palestine conflict, his comments also provided interesting clues about China’s messaging to the Global South.
First, he called on the international community to “follow the direction of a multipolar world” with the UN at its center. I wonder how opinion within Beijing’s inner circles breaks down around the bipolarity/multipolarity issue, considering ...
Day: September 24, 2020
China Sends a Heavy Hitter To Be Its New Ambassador To South Africa
China's ambassador-designate to South Africa, Chen Xiaodong, arrived at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg yesterday to start his tour as Beijing's sixth envoy to Pretoria. Chen's appointment to the post reaffirms Beijing's view that South Africa remains its most important ...
Following President Xi’s UNGA Speech, Chinese Diplomats in Africa Double-down on Vaccine Accessibility Pledge
Chinese diplomats in Africa are reaffirming President Xi Jinping's pledge to make a COVID-19 vaccine available to people across the continent once it's tested and ready for distribution. Fang Yi, the political attaché at the Chinese embassy in Uganda,
Martyn Davies: “African Economies Have Pivoted Towards a China-Centric Asia”
Long-time China-Africa market analyst Martyn Davies, the managing director for emerging markets at Deloitte, explains why the once dominant "Chimerica" (China-America) is now giving way to a new era of "ChiAfrica" (China-Africa) trade. Watch the full ...
Chinese Propaganda Floats the Idea of Integrating the Belt & Road Initiative With the AfCFTA
The Communist Party-controlled China Daily newspaper published an interesting article today written by Lewis Ndichu, a research and policy analyst at the Kenya-based think tank Africa Policy Institute, that proposes how China's Belt and Road Initiative can be integrated into the new African Continental Free ...
One of Nigeria’s Elder Statesmen Reflects on Ties With China
Aminu Wali, 79, is long retired from a distinguished diplomatic career as Nigeria's envoy to China, the United Nations and a stint as the country's foreign minister. In a wide-ranging interview with the Premium Times newspaper, Wali reflected on the current state of ties with China and ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
Unpacking Han Zheng’s Messaging to the Global South at the UN General Assembly
Popular Ghanaian YouTuber Goes to Village Where Chinese Man Was Named a Development Chief to Find Out What Happened
Ever since the Chinese businessman, Sun Qiang, was named development chief (Nkosuohene) of the small Ghanaian town of Kwahu-Abetifi two weeks ago, social media has been in an uproar. According to reports, Sun was awarded the title for giving $5,000 to the community. ...
What It Takes To Compete Against the Chinese in Africa
Remember all those exciting Africa summits that took place last year? The Russians and Turks each had one, as did the Europeans, and the Japanese. At one point it seemed kind ...