Beyond the central government and the Chinese Communist Party, China’s engagement with African countries is increasingly being driven by its provinces. Hebei, the crescent-shaped province circling Beijing, is a key example. We tracked how Hebei is boosting China’s presence in Africa across three different sectors:
- AGRICULTURE: Hebei Seed Association and the Nairobi-based African Academy of Sciences signed an agreement on scientific and technological cooperation in seed development. Varieties of corn, cotton, grain, soybeans, sorghum, sesame and vegetables from Hebei will be piloted in Africa. This includes experiments with drought-resilient seed in Ethiopia, Uganda, Nigeria, Namibia, and Sudan.
- MILITARY: Numerous African military personnel receive training at Hebei’s Shijiazhuang Army Command College, sometimes known as “China’ West Point.” Beyond military-to-military ties, this training is also being promoted as a popular talking point among the Chinese general public.
- BUSINESS: The Foreign Affairs Office of Hebei Province organized a briefing about investment opportunities and security challenges facing Chinese companies in Africa in late April. The session involved Hebei officials as well as more than 70 companies.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Provinces like Hebei form a little-examined third axis of engagement with Africa, boosting government and Party diplomacy.
