CGSP Podcasts
Weekly discussions with key thought leaders about China’s engagement in Africa and the Global South.
podcast
How China Changed Its Image in the African News Media
Ten years ago, African news coverage of China's engagement on the continent was often quite negative and repackaged many of the critical Western narratives. Today, the situation is very different. China has spent considerable resources ...
Training Africa’s EV Technicians: How Kenya is Preparing For E-Mobility Future
As electric vehicles (EVs) become more common on roads in African countries, the need for reliable service is also growing with forward thinkers already positioning themselves for the opportunity the e-mobility shift offers. In this ...
China’s Evolution from “Rules Taker” to “Rules Maker” in Development Finance
As China’s economic influence expands, so does its ambition to shape the very system that once constrained it. In this episode of The China-Global South Podcast, Eric speaks with Greg Chin and Kevin Gallagher from Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center about
Kenya’s Chinese Debt Swap Comes With a Hidden Currency Risk
The Kenyan Treasury last month announced a breakthrough in its years-long effort to restructure billions of dollars still owed to the China Exim Bank that were used to build the Standard Gauge Railway. The two ...
Local Assembly & Chinese EVs Powering Kenya’s Electric Vehicle Shift
In Kenya, Chinese electric vehicle (EV) tech is not just about cars but it's about the entire mobility space from scooters to buses to wheelchairs. Just like in many other African countries, EV innovations come ...
Folashadé Soulé on the Evolution of African Agency in China Relations
Ghana’s negotiations for a China–Ghana free trade deal have sparked a fierce national debate. Political leaders are hailing it as a breakthrough for exporters, while manufacturers warn of being swamped by cheaper Chinese imports. At the heart of the discussion lies ...
China Drives Indonesia’s Push for Clean Energy and More Coal
China sits at the heart of Indonesia’s energy paradox — driving the country’s ambitious shift toward renewables while remaining deeply entrenched in its coal economy. Chinese financing and technology are accelerating Indonesia’s clean energy buildout, from nickel refining to electric vehicles ...
[CGSP FORUM] Africa’s Energy Future and China: Gauging the Price of Power
In CGSP’s first-ever China–Africa Energy Forum, Managing Editor Cobus van Staden hosts three leading experts to explore how Chinese finance, technology, and policy are transforming Africa’s power landscape: Frangton ChiyemuraLecturer in International Development, Open ...
Trump, China and the New Power Politics in Asia
Chinese exports are booming—but ties with the U.S. are collapsing. Across Asia, from Beijing to Manila, Washington’s shifting strategy under Trump is reshaping alliances and testing security guarantees that have underpinned the region for decades. ...
Kenya’s China Debt Deal Challenges Old Narratives
Kenya and China have reached a groundbreaking agreement to restructure $3.5 billion in railway loans, converting them from U.S. dollars into Chinese yuan. The move could save Kenya $215 million in debt servicing costs and marks the first time an African ...
How China is Displacing U.S. Economic Power in Latin America
For centuries, the United States was the undisputed hegemonic power across the Western Hemisphere; however, that is no longer the case today. China is now the largest trading partner for the majority of countries in Latin America and is quickly filling ...
Chinese Online Outrage Over $80 Billion Zambia River Suit
More than six months after 50,000 liters of toxic water from a Chinese-run mining site spilled into Zambia's Kafue River, there's still no resolution to what's become a massive environmental crisis. The government is siding ...