Integrating African, Chinese and Global Perspectives

How can African societies benefit from intensified economic and political ties with China? How can China benefit from socially and political sustainable investments into African economies? To integrate African, Chinese and global perspectives, Yale University is partnering with leading business schools in Africa and China to host a series of high-profile conferences on Africa-China relations.

A Network of Thought Leaders

The conferences will bring together established and rising thought leaders on Africa-China relations, including scholars, experts, entrepreneurs, policy makers, activists and opinion leaders. Rather than reiterating well-known problems, the conferences will move beyond existing debates. The objective is to mobilize novel ideas, arguments and solutions to promote balance, sustainability and growth in Africa-China relations.

Planned Conferences

Lagos, Nigeria, March 15-18, 2016Beijing, China, date to be determined, 2017

Contact africa-china@yale.edu @YaleAfricaChina

Program Co-ChairsIBRAHIM GAMBARI

Professor Gambari is Nigeria’s Former Minister of External Affairs and Under-Secretary General of the United Nations. Currently, he serves as the chancellor of Kwara State University, an important new Nigerian institution that was established in his home state in 2009. He is also the Founder of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (“SCDDD”), based in Nigeria’s capital Abuja. SCDDD is a research and policy-making institution, which seeks to promote the evolution of Africa into a prosperous, politically stable and globally respected continent which is motivated by the culture of good governance.

LI ANSHAN

Professor Li is the Director of the Center for African Studies at Peking University and a Professor at the School of International Studies. He has published major works on African history, China–Africa relations, colonialism, overseas Chinese, and developmental studies. He is currently serving as Chair of the Chinese Society of African Historical Studies, Vice Chair of China Asia-Africa Association, Vice President of International Scientific Committee of UNESCO General History of Africa Vol. IX. In recent years, he was invited to give lectures about Africa to top CCP leaders, as well as globally on Africa-China relations. He was invited as distinguished guest at the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)-Beijing Ministerial Conference in 2000, Sino-African Education Minister’s Forum (2005) and the FOCAC-Beijing Summit (2006). In 2010, he led a delegation to Cameroon, Kenya, and Tanzania for the assessment of follow-up action of FOCAC.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Selected corporate sponsors are invited to assist in defraying costs. Sponsor privileges include:

Preferential access to conference registration Exclusive networking events with renowned thought leaders, decision-makers and entrepreneurs from China and AfricaIn-depth exposure to key issues, current trends and leading-edge analyses in Africa-China relationsVerbal recognition and branding on conference and promotional materialsCopies of post-conference publications

Corporate Contacts: International: Mark Ogden (mark.o@aftrade.ch)Nigeria: Baba Epega (baba@emc3.eu)

CONFERENCE THEMES

Business PartnershipsWhat is the potential of different business models to mutually benefit African and Chinese interests?

Social Acceptance of Chinese ProjectsHow can Chinese firms invest in the social sustainability of their African projects?

Corporate Social ResponsibilityWhat institutional approaches can enhance the corporate social responsibility of Chinese firms in Africa?

Diaspora CommunitiesWhat do African and Chinese overseas communities contribute to their host countries, and what are they bringing back?

Chinese Financial AssistanceWhat forms of Chinese assistance have the most sustainable impacts on African development and Africa-China relations?

China’s “Going Global” StrategyWhat are the risks and opportunities of relocating Chinese-owned manufacturing and heavy industry to Africa?

Resolving Africa’s Infrastructure CrisisHow will China’s role in the African infrastructure sector evolve?

Politics and GovernanceHow will current political trends in Africa affect Chinese investors and Chinese foreign policy?

Africa-China Relations in the MediaWhat can be learned from the contrasting media coverage of Africa-China relations in African, Chinese and Western media?

Africa-China Relations: Balance, Growth, and a

Sustainable Future

Lagos Business School March 15-18, 2016

PRESENTERS & PARTICIPANTS

Yale University is making targeted invitations to exceptional, high-profile panel chairs and contributors. A maximum of 60 presenters will be selected via competitive calls for proposals, targeted at academic and practitioner communities. Panel contributors will be identified based on the quality, originality and novelty of their proposals.

Conference participation is open to non-presenters at all levels of seniority, but on a selective basis. The registration criteria ensure high quality participants and a balance of African, Chinese and international backgrounds.

The organizing team is assembling an integrated service, hospitality and accommodation package for conference attendees. Travel and accommodations for conference presenters will be fully funded.