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China-Africa Knowledge Exchange: Development trajectories and Shared Paradigms
14 November 2024, 6:00 pm–7:30 pm
Join the DPU for our next DPU70 event.
Event Information
Open to
- All
Availability
- Yes
Organiser
-
Alexander Macfarlane
Location
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G08 Sir David Davies LTRoberts BuildingTorrington PlaceLondonWC1E 7JE
A State and Market Cluster Sponsored DPU70 Dialogue in Development Event
Given their respective population size and potential for development, the relationship between China and Africa is one of the most consequential for the 21st century. The past two decades have witnessed a rapid ascent of the Chinese economy on the global stage and the country’s growing presence in the African continent. At the same time, African countries are grappling with poverty reduction and structural transformation, a task China has tackled in its own recent history.
The expanding China-Africa relationship has the potential not only to change the two parties’ development trajectories, but also the way in which development is imagined and undertaken around the world. While most studies have focused their attention on flows of capital, people, goods, or technology between China and Africa, this dialogue explores the exchange of ideas and knowledge for development between them.
Key questions for the panel are: How are development trajectories and paradigms changing in Africa? What is the role of China in these processes? What has China learnt from its interaction with African countries?
Chair
Professor Julio D Davila, Professor of Urban Policy and International Development, Bartlett Development Planning Unit (DPU), UCL
Discussant
Professor Le-Yin Zhang, Professor of Urban Economic Development, DPU, UCL
Image: Puzzle piece symbolising the relationship between China and Africa. Image created using Open AI.
About the Speakers
James J Oporia-Ekwaro
Former Ugandan ambassador to China and Teaching Fellow at DPU, UCL
Born and educated in Uganda, James Oporia-Ekwaro earned a BA (honours) from Makerere University College, Kampala, Uganda and an MA from University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. For more than 30 years, he held executive positions in several international NGOs, including World Student Christian Federation (WSCF), the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), and Christian Aid.
He has extensive experiences in conflict resolution and diplomacy. He served as Ambassador, Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of the Republic of Uganda to the People's Republic of China, based in Beijing, covering North Korea, Vietnam and Kampuchea. He is a founding member of the Nairobi Peace Initiative and participated in several high-level Conflict Resolution Missions including Southern Sudan, Eritrea-Ethiopia conflict, and RPF vs Central Government.
Having previously lectured at University of Nairobi School of Diplomacy and the Conrad Grebel College, Wilfried Laurier University, Canada, he is a Teaching Fellow at the Bartlett Development Planning Unit, UCL. His academic interests include China-US relations; Imperialism in Africa; anti-imperialist movements; and African Security.
More about James J Oporia-EkwaroDr Jing Zhang
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Sustainable Structural Transformation and Department of Economics at School of Oriental and African (SOAS), University of London
She completed her PhD in Development Policy at the Development Planning Unit, University College London. Her main research interests are in the areas of urbanisation and industrialisation, infrastructure development, global China and the political economy of low-carbon development. Prior to her PhD, Jing was a research fellow at the China Development Research Foundation (CDRF), affiliated with the Development Research Centre of State Council, P.R. China. Working with a multitude of stakeholders from central and local governments, multinational companies, and international organisations such as the Ford Foundation and OECD, Jing’s previous research experiences covered a wide range of economic policy issues in China related to female entrepreneurship and leadership, urban and regional integration, infrastructure development and PPP.
More about Dr Jing Zhang