2024 will be remembered as a seminal year in China-Africa relations with a rebound of Chinese lending to the continent and renewed diplomatic engagement in the run-up to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit that took place in Beijing. Africa also emerged again as a centerpiece in the U.S.-China duel as leaders from both major powers visited the continent in 2024. And while stakeholders in the U.S. and Europe struggle to get their businesses to see the opportunities available in Africa, Chinese firms have no such concerns as they expanded their presence this year in the mining, telecom, and automotive sectors. In this year-end double episode, Eric, Cobus, & Géraud share their top three China-Africa stories of 2024 and provide a forecast for what to expect in the year ahead. JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque | @christiangeraud Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth  

François Conradie, a political economist at Oxford Economics Africa, discusses Morocco's rising status as a magnet for Chinese investment. He highlights how Morocco’s strategic location and free trade agreements make it an attractive hub for Chinese automakers. The conversation delves into Morocco’s critical role in the global battery metal supply chain and its burgeoning automotive industry. Additionally, Conradie explores the complexities of Morocco's trade dynamics with China and implications for local industries amid the geopolitical landscape.

Tensions between China and the Philippines over territorial disputes in the South China Sea flared anew in December after another confrontation at sea. Soon after two vessels collided near the contested Scarborough Shoal, representatives from both sides took to the airwaves to blame the other for the latest incident. Both Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Philippines counterpart Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. have made it clear they will not concede even a single inch of territory they claim rightfully belongs to their countries. Don McLain Gill, a Manila-based lecturer at De La Salle University, joins Eric to discuss why the situation going into the new year will remain very tense. JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth

Cameron Hudson, a Senior Fellow at CSIS and expert on African affairs, shares insights on the potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy with Trump’s expected return. He discusses how some African leaders are optimistic about gaining direct access to U.S. policymakers. The conversation highlights the increasing geopolitical competition with China and how Trump's hawkish national security team could impact U.S.-Africa relations, especially concerning critical minerals and regional dynamics in East Africa.

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told the lower house of parliament last week that "some improvement" had been made in resolving the ongoing border dispute with China. But he also cautioned that a lot more work has to be done and that it will take years to "reset" relations with Beijing. The two sides have pulled back their military forces from seven points along their contested boundary in the Himalayas, so they're no longer in close proximity to one another, but those troops are nonetheless still stationed there and haven't yet been redeployed. Daniel Balazs, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, is a specialist in Sino-Indian relations and joins Eric to discuss what's motivating the two countries to negotiate a border settlement. JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @cgneema | @eric_olander | @stadenesque Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth

Jérôme Nima, Africa editor for the China Global South Project, discusses Joe Biden's recent visit to Africa, the first by a sitting U.S. president in nearly a decade. He critiques how international media framed the trip amidst U.S.-China competition, often overshadowing Biden's aims for climate funding and humanitarian aid. Nima highlights the need for genuine African representation in global decisions and addresses the complex narratives surrounding Chinese investments versus loans in Africa, urging for a deeper understanding of the continent’s economic landscape.

This week, a major conference in Ivory Coast united leaders to discuss Africa's energy transition and China's pivotal role in it. The conversation highlighted China's contribution to new energy technologies and resources in the region. Meanwhile, the upcoming visit of President Biden to Angola raised eyebrows amid the ongoing U.S.-China rivalry, emphasizing the geopolitical stakes. The podcast intricately connected the themes of energy governance, international diplomacy, and the evolving dynamics of U.S.-China relations in Africa.

Putra Adhiguna, Managing Director at the Energy Shift Institute, discusses Indonesia's pivotal role in the global nickel industry, crucial for electric vehicle batteries. He explores the challenges posed by the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to curb China’s dominance in the supply chain. Adhiguna highlights Indonesia's regulatory hurdles and the urgent need for better governance to navigate environmental and ethical concerns. The conversation sheds light on the competition between the U.S. and China for transition minerals and what it means for Indonesia.

Jérôme Nima, the Africa editor at CGSP and an expert based in Mauritius, dives into the dynamics of Africa's role at the G20 summit. He discusses the African Union's debut and its significance for global cooperation. Nima critiques China’s assertive position, particularly Xi Jinping's speech targeting the U.S. He raises important questions about Africa’s representation and influence in international affairs. The conversation also tackles challenges within international financial institutions and examines the often fraught U.S.-Africa relations.

Chinese contractors have been renovating the Ream Naval Base in Cambodia for the past two years, leading to widespread suspicion that the upgraded facility could eventually serve as a future outpost for the PLA Navy in Southeast Asia. Despite compelling evidence that Chinese naval forces have been stationed at the base for much of the year, both the Chinese and Cambodian governments deny these claims. Christopher Woody, an independent defense journalist based in Bangkok, argues that while it seems the Chinese military is set to maintain a presence at the base, it may not resemble a traditional military installation. JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth