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‘If You Want to Get Rich, Build a Road.’ Testing China’s Theory in Africa

There's a Chinese proverb that says, “If you want to get rich, build a road first.” That philosophy has guided China's development strategy in Africa for much of the past 25 years, that's led to the construction of more than 100,000km ...

Chinese-Built Roads in Malawi Bring Hope but Not the Riches Many Expected

Does the Chinese proverb "If you want to get rich, build a road first" ring true for Malawi? Or does this proverb apply only to Chinese construction companies rather than Malawians? ...

Youthful Technicians Building Malawi’s E-bikes Driven by Chinese Tech

An electric vehicle (EV) company in Malawi, one of the continent’s smallest and landlocked economies, is making groundbreaking efforts to electrify transportation in the country, which is also one of the poorest in the world. Despite the challenges of raising capital ...

Startup in Malawi Bets on Chinese Tech to Power an EV Shift

For years, Malawi, the world’s fourth-poorest country, has suffered from chronic fuel shortages. However, in a sunbaked workshop on the outskirts of the capital, Lilongwe, a team of local electric vehicle (EV) technicians is working to overcome this anomaly. Huddled around ...

Bank Boosts African Trade Hub

Shanghai Pudong Development Bank opened its first account to handle cross-border settlements for an African consulate. The bank’s branch in Changsha opened the account for the Malawian consulate in Hunan Province. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? The Chinese government has designated Hunan as ...

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

Plugging into African Agency

After several years of declining funding, the African end of the Belt and Road Initiative seems to be roaring back. The newest Griffith University/Green Development Finance Center data on the Belt and Road Initiative shows that engagement with Africa jumped by 395%, while a few big projects boosted engagement in Nigeria alone more than twelvefold.
These shifts indicate a window of opportunity for African electrification. 60% of Africans still ...

WEEK IN REVIEW: Foreign Minister Wang Yi Said China Willing To “Play a Constructive Role” at Upcoming APEC Summit in November

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China is willing to "play a constructive role" at the upcoming APEC summit in November but wouldn't confirm if President Xi Jinping will attend. Xi stayed home from both the recent G20 and ASEAN summits, prompting speculation he'll do the same for APEC.  

WEEK IN REVIEW: AU in G20 and the New “Chinese Savior” Narrative in Africa

The Chinese Foreign Ministry was among the first major governments this week to welcome the African Union as the newest member of the G20. The big question now is what will the AU do now that it has a seat at ...

Malawian Court Convicts Chinese Man at the Center of BBC Expose for Exploiting Children to Make Videos

A Malawian court convicted Lu Ke, the Chinese man featured in a BBC Eye on Africa documentary about the highly exploitative practice of showcasing African children in so-called "blessing videos." The court on Friday sentenced Lu to 12 months in ...

New Foreign Ministry Annex in Ghana and a Newly Refurbished Parliament Building in Malawi Are China’s Latest “Gifts” to African Governments

Ghana's Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey was visibly excited to see what her new office will look like in the new $20 million foreign ministry annex building that will be entirely paid for by China. Botchwey was joined by the Chinese ambassador ...

It’s China, Not Africa That Could be Facing a Debt Trap: Report

At 12% of Africa’s total external debt, China didn’t cause the current wave of debt distress hitting the continent. But the crisis presents Beijing with a dilemma: should it strongarm these countries to get its money back or trade economic losses for diplomatic gains? ...

African Exploitation Videos Are Big Business on Chinese Social Media

The recent BBC documentary "Racism for Sale" pointed a powerful spotlight on the popular Chinese "blessing video" business that is both highly exploitative and very profitable. These videos feature Africans and people from other developing regions, often ...

The Chinese Internet Turned on Lu Ke, the Culprit in the BBC’s “Racism for Sale” Documentary

For years, the Chinese internet reflexively defended all compatriots against any charges of anti-Black discrimination or racism. "China and Chinese people DO NOT DISCRIMINATE. Period." was the line that came back against any accusation by foreigners of Chinese maltreatment of Black people in places like Guangzhou in 2020 or in ...
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