Scholars, Diplomats in South Africa Discuss the Future of Africa-China Ties

Chinese ambassador to South Africa, Chen Xiaodong, delivers the opening remarks at an online discussion among Chinese and African scholars and diplomats about the future of ties between the two regions.

The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) together with the Chinese embassy in Pretoria hosted an online forum last week that featured discussions among Chinese diplomats, including Ambassador Chen Xiaodong, and scholars from both China and Africa to discuss the future of ties between the two regions.

The marathon event, coming in at just under four hours, was hosted by SAIIA’s lead China-Africa researcher and CAP co-founder Cobus van Staden. The Chinese scholars who spoke at the event all read from prepared texts that largely re-stated long-standing positions (e.g. China-Africa relations should “resist external influence” and “support multilateralism” among others) but the panelists from Africa were far more nuanced and animated in their remarks.

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by Eric Olander

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