The China in Africa Podcast

Chinese companies are investing closer to home in Asia instead of Africa and other less-developed regions. The podcast explores the evolution of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), green projects, and the progress of specific deals. It also contrasts the attitudes on migration between Europe and China, and compares China and Europe's engagement with the global south.

A new study shows that China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is still alive and has undergone major reforms. The podcast explores the US efforts to counter China's influence, China's rescue lending practices and global debt implications, US-China financial competition, and the importance of long-term planning. They also discuss the challenges of misinformation and underreported stories.

Researchers discuss the challenges of meeting ESG standards in Chinese-funded infrastructure projects in Africa. They explore the impact of misinformation on US foreign policy and raise questions about the balance between ESG standards and job creation priorities. The podcast also examines the challenges of relocation and land compensation in Chinese infrastructure projects, and provides recommendations for improving ESG performance in African governments.

Ningyi Sun, co-director of Eat Bitter, a documentary humanizing the main characters in the China-Africa relationship. The podcast discusses the challenges of distributing the film, the sand supply chain in the Central African Republic, the pain and affection in a troubled family, and the importance of humanizing the China-Africa relationship.

Discussing the impact of Chinese media influence in Africa and Beijing's efforts to reshape the global information environment; Analyzing China's evolving tactics in media engagement and their impact on public opinion; Comparing Chinese media influence in Latin America and Africa; Examining Chinese messaging and Western soft power targeting overseas Chinese populations; Exploring the influence of American media on African perceptions; Discussing the framing of Chinese messaging in Africa and the challenges of distinguishing real news from fake news.

Five African heads of state attended China's Belt and Road Forum, highlighting Africa's prominent role. Key takeaways include new development finance and greater access to the Chinese market. Discussions cover African perspectives, urgent issues, positive impacts of China's investments, and contrasting approaches to development aid. China showcases optimism for the future, while the West lacks a clear vision. China's growing relationship with the global South and its foreign policy shifts are emphasized.

Across Africa, public opinion about China has been quite positive overall with favorability ratings surpassing those of other major powers, including the United States. But not in Zimbabwe, at least among the country's elites, according to a new survey. Only 37% of urban, educated Zimbabweans felt positive about China's impact on their country, significantly lower than the 63% favorability score that Afrobarometer recorded just a couple of years ago. The new poll was conducted earlier this year by William Hautungimana and Haruka Nagao, both assistant professors at Oklahoma State University in the United States. William joins Eric & Cobus from Stillwater, Oklahoma to explain why China's approval rating is comparatively low and what's fueling the skepticism about the Chinese in Zimbabwe. SHOW NOTES: The Conversation: We asked 1,000 Zimbabweans what they think of China’s influence on their country − only 37% viewed it favorably: https://bit.ly/3rN8iCo JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject| @stadenesque | @eric_olander | @williamhautung1 Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth FOLLOW CAP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine عربي: www.akhbaralsin-africia.com | @AkhbarAlSinAfr JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CAP 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 CAP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Guest Michael Pettis, a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, discusses the impact of China's changing economy on the Global South. Topics include China's weakened economy post-pandemic, the property crisis, and the effect on local government finances. Pettis also explores China's economic policies, high savings, and the role of the RMB in the global economy. The podcast touches on manufacturing trends, interdependency with the US, biases on social media, and the launch of the China Global South project.

Only a handful of universities around the world teach area studies courses in China-Africa relations. It's a field that was once quite popular but less so today as interest in studying Chinese affairs more broadly has fallen precipitously. Student enrollment, for example, in Chinese language classes in U.S. and European universities has plunged by at least 20% over the past ten years and is still largely non-existent in most higher education programs in the Global South. But if you're one of the fortunate few to attend Harvard University, you can still study Mandarin and sign up for the class "China and the African Continent." The course instructor, Daniel Koss, an associate senior lecturer and research scholar in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University, joins Eric & Cobus from Cambridge to discuss the key themes that he's covering in this semester's class. SHOW NOTES: "EASTD 199: China and the African Continent" course cover art: https://bit.ly/46G4UrR Google Scholar: Daniel Koss: https://bit.ly/46zNgG3 Africans on China: africansonchina.com JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject| @stadenesque | @eric_olander | @kossdaniel Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth FOLLOW CAP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine عربي: www.akhbaralsin-africia.com | @AkhbarAlSinAfr JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CAP 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 CAP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dramatic scenes this week in Italy where 7,000 people, mostly from Africa, came ashore after making the dangerous trek across the Mediterranean. It was a similar situation along the U.S.-Mexico border where 9,000 people crossed in a single day. Poverty, in many cases, is fueling this latest migration surge due in part to the worsening economic conditions in many of these countries, particularly in Africa which is now the epicenter of twin climate and debt crises. David McNair, executive director of Global Policy at the UK-based One Campaign, joins Eric & Cobus to discuss his latest research on African debt repayments and how stark inequities make it impossible for many of the world's poorest governments to do anything to mitigate the effects of climate change. JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Sign up to receive the One.org Aftershocks weekly newsletter: data.one.org/aftershocks/ X: @ChinaGSProject| @stadenesque | @eric_olander | @david_mcnair Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth FOLLOW CAP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine عربي: www.akhbaralsin-africia.com | @AkhbarAlSinAfr JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CAP 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 CAP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.