Qin Gang is carrying on a 33-year-old tradition by making Africa the first official visit of the new year for China’s foreign minister. Qin took office just two weeks ago and is new to African affairs, so this week’s five-nation tour is more about him and his hosts getting to know one another than engaging in substantive policy discussions.
But the tour comes at a critical juncture for China’s engagement on the continent. Chinese lending to African countries is down, great power competition is up and there’s a new foreign policy team in Beijing that appears more focused on the U.S. and Europe than Global South regions including Africa.
Hannah Ryder, CEO of the development consultancy Development Reimagined, isn’t worried. She joins Eric & Cobus this week to explain why she’s optimistic about this year’s prospects for Chinese engagement in Africa.
Chapters
0:00 Ads then intro into the episode
2:22 Qin Gang Africa Visit
6:08 Introducing today’s guest Hannah Ryder
7:49 What is the significance of Qin Gang visit to Africa?
10:58 Debt restructuring talks in 2023
14:26 Where does Africa get debt if China reduces the lending?
17:14 What is debt sustainable threshold?
22:22 How will the borrowers club work?
26:59 Update on China-Africa trade engagements
30:42 China-Africa trade imbalance
35:18 How does Africa start doing manufacturing?
38:17 New actors in China-Africa relations
44:26 Africa capacity in working with China
50:07 A recap of the conversation
JOIN THE DISCUSSION:
Twitter: @ChinaGSProject| @stadenesque | @eric_olander | @hmryder
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject
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/chinaafricaproject
source