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China into Africa: New Research on Chinese Influence in Africa and What It Means for the Continent―and U.S. Foreign Policy

Feb 5, 2009

The recently published China into Africa: Trade, Aid, and Influence sheds new light on the well studied but still poorly understood emerging relationship by drawing in the perspectives of African, Chinese, and American scholars. The volume editor, Robert Rotberg--Director, Program on Intrastate Conflict and Conflict Resolution, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and President, World Peace Foundation--argues that China’s current thrust into sub-Saharan Africa promises to do more for economic growth and poverty alleviation there than anything attempted by Western colonialism or the massive initiatives of the international lending agencies and other donors. Chapter author Wenran Jiang--Mactaggart Research Chair, China Institute, University of Alberta--explores China’s strategic interests, particularly its focus on energy, and concludes that China and the West both have an interest in cooperating to facilitate geopolitical stability.

At this CGD hosted event on February 5, 2009, China into Africa authors Rotberg and Jiang discussed the challenges of the new U.S. administration to respond effectively to Chinese engagement in the continent, including partnership on donor assistance and tackling the toughest cases in Somalia, Zimbabwe, and Sudan. CGD senior fellow Todd Moss moderated the discussion.

Read Devex correpondent Ryan Weddle's blog on this event.