China-Africa relations: What do Chinese scholars know about Africa?

The Chinese Society of African Historical Studies in collaboration with Shanxi University’s School of History and Culture organised a symposium under the theme: Sino-African Relations and the Contemporary World, in Taiyuan on October 15-18, 2008.

The Sino-African symposium was of particular importance because it broadened the scope of the society’s activities compared to similar events in the past. It brought together more than 120 participants, including Chinese academics and, for the first time, two African scholars and ten African students in China.

Another first was the financial support the event received from the German Böll Foundation.

Apart from the Chinese and African academics, Chinese volunteers with experience working in Zimbabwe and a number of Chinese entrepreneurs with business interests in Africa took part in the forum and shared their first-hand knowledge of the African continent.

Various presentations from the Chinese participants showed their concern about the challenges China faces as a new actor in Africa, a continent traditionally regarded as a sphere of influence of Western powers. Some of the issues addressed were China-Africa cooperation and its implications for the West, competition between the West and China in Africa, Western Nations’ ODA and African democratization. The USA AFRICOM and implications for China’s strategy to Africa also formed part of the deliberations. Through these discussions, the Chinese scholars argued that China still had lot to do to secure stable, long-term relations with African nations.

The Darfur crisis was considered a critical issue in China-Africa relations and Chinese scholars offered presentations on the China-Sudan weapons trade and comparisons between the Chinese and US policies on Darfur. The researchers expressed their anxiety about the impact of the Darfur issue not only on China-Sudan relations but also on China-Africa relations in general. Professor Li Guangyi of Xiangtan University defended China’s weapons sales to Sudan, saying they complied with relevant international laws and that China was a non-partisan actor in the Darfur crisis. But, other Chinese participants, including Jiang Hengkun of Zhejiang Normal University said China needed to take more action to settle the crisis, given that China claims to be a responsible player in world affairs.

Other bilateral topics of particular interest amongst Chinese participants were China-South Africa educational exchanges and cooperation, and the development of science education in Nigeria.

But apart from Sino-African relations, it was rewarding to see Chinese research on specific national and societal phenomena in Africa, reflecting the deepening understanding of African civilisation. The topics debated ranged from the activities and impact of religious non-government organisations in Africa, African literature, population pressures in Tanzania and Cairo to South Africa’s domestic political environment and debates around President Mbeki’s resignation. Others presentation included assessments of South Africa’s world heritage protection and management and an analysis of contemporary Ethiopian civil society.

A number of younger Chinese scholars argued that there were not enough resources in China to study Africa and its people. Peking University student Yuan Ye criticised the lack of teaching of African languages in China, pointing out that fewer than four universities in the entire country provided courses in Swahili or Hausa languages and class sizes were very limited. Yuan said a better understanding of Africa rested on training more Chinese students in African dialects because official western languages in most African nations did not reveal the nature of African culture. He said learning African languages could help Chinese scholars gauge a better understanding of African culture and develop original empirical findings. Chinese anthropologist Ma Yankun agreed, saying that by developing such knowledge Chinese researchers had engage closely with African societies and communities. Only then could Chinese policy towards Africa be well developed.

African participants used their presentations to highlight the need for reciprocity in China-Africa relations. Speaking on China-Africa Relations in an Era of Globalisation: The Role of African Trading Communities in China, African scholar Adams Bodomo, from Hong Kong University concluded that African traders in Guangzhou, Guangdong province were important actors and played significant roles in the commercial and cultural relations between China and Africa. He suggested Chinese authorities examine these [African] traders’ contributions to the development of China-Africa relations and facilitate their settlement in China.

On the question of cultural cooperation, another African researcher argued that although China seemed to be engaging in wider cultural exchanges with African nations, there were just three Chinese cultural centres on the continent despite more than 50 years of relations with Africa. While Chinese Confucius Institutes have begun to emerge at various African universities, their numbers are still few compared to expectations. The African scholars concluded that although China still had work to do in introducing its culture to Africans, its investment in the field had already yielded much. As for the African nations, they still had to make much more effort to introduce their culture to Chinese people. After 50 years of cultural exchanges, there is no African cultural symbol in China. China and African nations should work together to also reach a win-win situation in the domain of cultural exchanges.

In conclusion, the symposium revealed an interest among Chinese scholars in current China-Africa ties as well as an eagerness to know more about the history and societal phenomena across Africa. It is no exaggeration to say that the Chinese scholars know Africans better than Africans know China and that there was a strong call for mutual development in this regard. In order to develop responsive policies towards China, African scholars, and not just African governments, need to be better informed about China and understand its core.

* Summary compiled by Maurice GOUNTIN PhD in China’s Contemporary Diplomacy based at Renmin University, China.