Africa-China

Speech: How can China best support Industrial Value Chains and Value Addition in Africa?

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Excellencies, Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen, Director General Wu Peng, Your Excellency Sylla Deputy Director Zhang Jianhua Resident Coordinator Chatterjee I want to express my sincere appreciation, on behalf of Development Reimagined, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and China Africa Business Council for the warm hospitality, and the kind invitation to not only speak …

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Policy Brief: FOCAC 8 At 1 – What Has Changed in Africa-China Trade so far?

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The 8th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was recently held in Dakar, Senegal, bringing together high-level officials from China and African countries to discuss cooperation in various areas, including trade facilitation. A new report by Development Reimagined analyzes the trade facilitation initiatives announced at FOCAC 8 and assesses their potential impact.  The report highlights a …

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Speech: What next for China-Africa Private Sector Cooperation?

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Speech by Development Reimagined CEO, Hannah Ryder, at The Forum on China-Africa Private Sector Cooperation. Recommendations by the Development Reimagined team for future cooperation regarding Africa-China private sector cooperation are provided below. Full Speech Below Distinguished guests, Ministers, Governors, Ambassadors, colleagues and friends, It gives me great pleasure to join you virtually this afternoon, at …

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Expert View: 3 Key Trends in the Chinese Market for 2023

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1. The removal of the Covid-19 policy and measures to boost consumption means more market opportunities for African business The Chinese government officially announced that it would downgrade its controversial “Zero-Covid Policy” on December 26, 2022. After waves of infections across the country due to the population’s lack of exposure to the virus, the first …

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Expert View: What impact might China’s 20th National Congress have on Africa-China business and trade?

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In October, the world’s attention was firmly placed on China, as the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) commenced. Not only is the CPC among the most important events in China’s political system (it decides the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)) for the next five years, and in turn, …

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Expert view: What is Jing Dong (JD) and why is it relevant for African brands in China?

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What is JD? Founded in 2004, JD is now one China’s biggest and most trusted e-commerce platforms. It was originally founded as a website but is now accessed through its mobile app, as Chinese consumers almost solely use apps to shop online. JD started out as an e-commerce platform for primarily digital devices. Since 2010, …

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Are African governments doing enough with China on climate action? New report says there is room for more and better cooperation

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It’s an often-cited fact that the African continent is particularly vulnerable to the direct and indirect effects of climate change – a vulnerability that has been exacerbated by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic – while being responsible for just a tiny percentage, under 4%, of global greenhouse gas emissions. While these narratives are important to recognize, …

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Event: SADC Roundtable with China on the AU’s Program For Infrastructure Development For Africa (PIDA)

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On the 30th of August 2022, Development Reimagined in partnership with the African Union Permanent Mission to China organized a hybrid closed-door roundtable discussion “Sub-Regional Discussion for the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and China on Regional Infrastructure Projects Under the African Union’s Program for Infrastructure Development for Africa (PIDA).” The hybrid event brought together …

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Why African Coffee Producers Should Sell Their Coffee in China and How to Do It

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China is the world’s second-largest market. Therefore, any country looking to increase its export footprint is an important market to enter and gain significant market share. In the last decade, China has seen a rapid increase in coffee consumption. While China’s hot beverage consumption has historically been dominated by tea, coffee consumption has grown in …

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Meet the high-end African brands who are breaking the Chiense market – Kangumamu AGRO

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It is no secret that coffee has exploded in popularity in China, despite being a traditionally tea drinking country. Although most coffee consumed in China comes from Vietnam and Malaysia, as well as China itself, African coffee is becoming increasingly popular amongst Chinese consumers. For example, the volume of Ethiopia’s coffee exports to China is …

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Is Africa-China trade picking up now the Shanghai Covid-19 lockdown is over?

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Last week, authorities in Shanghai finally lifted a two-month-long COVID-19 lockdown that could reportedly reduce China’s overall GDP by 4% this year. Across China as a whole, Covid-19 cases have also reduced to around 70 per day in mainly Beijing and Shanghai resulting in Beijing and other effected cities lifting restrictions. The local and global …

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Why is China’s e-commerce market such a big deal and how can African brands take advantage of it?

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The simple answer as to why China’s e-commerce market is such a big deal is that China has the world largest and most diverse e-commerce market. In 2021, China’s e-commerce market took up more than half of the global online sales! E-commerce retail sales also reached a whopping 13.1 trillion yuan (about 2.06 trillion USD) …

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Everything YOU need to know about China’s e-commerce giant: JD Worldwide

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China’s e-commerce market is the largest in the world. The key to succeeding in the Chinese market is understanding how your brand can make the most of China’s thriving e-commerce sector.  JD-Worldwide is China’s biggest online sales platform for foreign brands. It’s a cross-border e-commerce platform that allows foreign brands to sell directly to Chinese consumers …

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Q&A: Shanghai Port disruptions and impact on African businesses and trade

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Shanghai is known for its fast-paced city life, with the bright lights from the Lujiazui skyline sparkling across the Bund, attracting tourists from within China and the rest of the world. It’s a bustling trade and commercial mega-city, with Shanghai Port being one of the largest – and busiest – ports in China. However, on …

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African Union and Development Reimagined: Special Dialogue on the African Union’s Program for Infrastructure Development for Africa (PIDA)

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On the 13th and 14th of April 2022, the African Union Permanent Mission to China and Development Reimagined organized a Special Dialogue on “Coordinating on Regional Infrastructure Projects under the African Union’s Program for Infrastructure Development for Africa (PIDA)”. The two-day hybrid event saw over 140 stakeholders attend, some in-person at the AU Embassy in …

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What is FOCAC8 and what does it mean for Africa-China trade and African-based businesses?

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On November 29th, the Africa Reimagined  team (some in Dakar and some in China) were eagerly awaiting President Xi Jinping’s speech at the opening ceremony of the eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC8) in Dakar, Senegal. Why? President Xi’s speech laid out the key agendas that would shape the Africa-China relationship …

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Speech: Five Steps for Africans to seize the FOCAC 2021 Opportunity

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Speech by Development Reimagined CEO, Hannah Ryder, at the 2nd China and International Development Forum, hosted by CAITEC. Full Speech Below Distinguished guests, Your excellencies, Vice President Yu Zirong, Chairperson Mao Xiaojing, Director General Wu Peng, Your Excellency Osman, Deputy Director General He Song, Resident Representative Trankmann, Director He Yuan, distinguished fellow speakers, ladies and …

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Policy Brief: Mapping the Future Options for China–Africa Trade

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Mapping the Future of China–Africa Relations: How the Continent can Benefit China is Africa’s largest trading partner, and deeper China–Africa engagement has the potential to transform the continent’s trade. The establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is set to add significantly to this evolution, particularly as most of the African countries that have …

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Key Facts and Projects: Reimagining FOCAC engagement in a post-COVID-19 world

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FOCAC 2021- Bridging Partnerships for Deeper Cooperation Since the first Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000, the China-Africa relationship has grown significantly, both in size and scope. FOCAC has been instrumental in coordinating and progressing the relationship, with a number of important agreements being announced during previous FOCAC meetings. For example, China’s loan …

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Health Cooperation Under the FOCAC Umbrella

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With the 8th Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Ministerial Conference due to be held at the end of November 2021, Development Reimagined has been reflecting on past Africa-China cooperation under the FOCAC umbrella, as well as an exploring on how to adapt FOCAC in light of new and emerging global challenges such as COVID-19 …

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Sino-Africa Cooperation: Corporate Social Responsibility Guide

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Now, more than ever, businesses no matter how large or small, and regardless of their industry, can contribute to sustainable development and the achievement of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Global challenges – ranging from climate, water and food crises, to poverty, conflict and inequality – are in need of solutions that the …

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Agricultural Cooperation Under the FOCAC Umbrella

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For the first time in a global context dramatically changed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Ministerial Conference will be held in Senegal at the end of the year. The pandemic has had a significant negative impact on Africa’s economy, with many countries facing declining GDP and economic growth …

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Reimagine Africa- China Cooperation

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2021 African Ambassadors Dinner Gala & Celebration On 28 October 2021, Development Reimagined organized the “2021 African Ambassadors Gala Dinner” in Beijing, in celebration of the “2021 African Ambassadors Virtual Retreat” hosted in September 2021. The dinner provided a unique and relaxed platform for African Ambassadors, African leaders and Chinese partners to come together and reflect …

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China Social Impact Award Winners!

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We are delighted to announce that Development Reimagined was recently awarded the Rural Revitalization award at the China Social Impact Awards for our contributions to Poverty Alleviation! Our flagship project, Africa Reimagined, was especially commended for supporting African brands enter the Chinese market, which creates spin-off effects such as supporting the development of the value-chain …

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Speech: Three proposals for China and Africa to live in peace with nature

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Speech by Development Reimagined CEO, Hannah Ryder, at the Nanjing Peace Forum. Full Speech Below Distinguished guests, Your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, good morning good afternoon dajia shang wu hao, xia wu hao, and a huge thank you to the organisers for the kind invitation to be here today. it is a priviledge and an …

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The Virtual Dialogue on China-Africa Health Cooperation

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Bridging China-Africa health collaboration With COVID-19 threatening public health in countries and regions worldwide, international health cooperation is increasingly needed to recover from the pandemic, strengthen health systems and accelerate development. To enhance communication and cooperation on health between key stakeholders in Africa and China, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) partnered with …

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Designed to Disrupt 2.0. Africa Reimagined at The Second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo

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Over the past few decades, it has become abundantly clear that ‘aid’ is not the only answer to Africa’s development. Solving economic and social challenges requires more than just financial aid, with an urgent need for structural change – in trade, investment and people. Since the late 2000s, China has become an increasingly prominent development partner …

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Designed to Disrupt 2.0: Africa Reimagined welcomes record crowds at the second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo

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Over the past few decades, it has become abundantly clear that ‘aid’ is not the only answer to Africa’s development. Solving economic and social challenges requires more than just financial aid, with an urgent need for structural change – in trade, investment and people. Since the late 2000s, China has become an increasingly prominent development partner for many African …

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Speech: Forum On China-Africa Private Sector Cooperation

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Speech by Development Reimagined CEO, Hannah Ryder, at The Forum on China-Africa Private Sector Cooperation. Recommendations by the Development Reimagined team for future cooperation regarding Africa-China private sector cooperation are provided below. Full Speech Below Distinguished guests, Ministers, Governors, Ambassadors, colleagues and friends, It gives me great pleasure to join you virtually this afternoon, at …

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2021 African Ambassadors to China FOCAC Preparation Retreat

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FOCAC Preparation Retreat On September 9 & 10 2021, Development Reimagined hosted the second virtual African Ambassadors in China retreat to engage and share ideas regarding the forthcoming Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)  meeting. The retreat covered three major thematic areas in China- Africa cooperation- agriculture, health and infrastructure development. The objectives of the …

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Speech: Sharing Digital Technology Dividends & Bridging the Digital Divide

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The China-Africa Internet Development And Cooperation Forum Speech by a senior African diplomat in China at the China-Africa Internet Development And Cooperation Forum in Beijing (August 2021). Recommendations by the Development Reimagined team for the FOCAC 2021 action plan are provided below. FULL SPEECH: Internet is today- what maritime was in the past centuries- in …

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ECOWAS Roundtable Discussion: Reimagining Financing In West Africa – Common Trends And Issues In China’s International Financing

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In July 2021, we hosted the first event of our Ambassadors Roundtable series with Ambassadors and their representatives of West Africa based in China. Co-ordinating across diplomatic missions in China, the focus of discussion was the challenges surrounding West African development financing strategies with respect to China in particular. The roundtable events are part of …

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Q&A: Kenya’s Ambassador to China Reflects on the Current State of Ties With Beijing

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China-Kenya relations are at a critical stage as the two countries face enormous challenges related to debt sustainability, a severe trade imbalance, and the public health crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, Kenya remains a strategically vital country for China as a key hub on Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, an important gateway …

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The Impact of China’s Financing for Coal on Climate Change and Agriculture in Africa

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Back in September 2020, President Xi Jinping announced China would aim for carbon neutrality by 2060, followed by setting more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for 2030. Such bold commitments appeared to reflect Beijing progressing towards adopting climate-friendly policies, premised on low-carbon and renewable technologies. Despite these new commitments, China continues to fund coal projects worldwide, Africa being …

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Does China’s White Paper on Development Mean Anything for Africa?

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In January 2021, China finally published its White Paper on International Development Cooperation. I say finally because – having seen white papers on aid published in 2011 and 2014, some people at least had the expectation that the next in the series would be in 2017! Nevertheless, the 2021 paper generated considerable online buzz, especially …

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China has delivered more vaccines to Africa than COVAX, how?

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Updated Every Month Nearly 1.33 billion vaccine doses have been ordered by African countries and the African Union – that’s enough to fully vaccinate half of the population, getting close to herd immunity levels, but as of early June, African countries have received only 1.5% of the world’s vaccines. While media has focused this month …

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Better Late Than Never: Can China Help Kenya Break The 2% Vaccine Wall?

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After walking out of the COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Nairobi, with my arm slightly sore after receiving my first free dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, I felt hopeful that this reflected a new stage in Kenya’s COVID-19 response. However, a few weeks on, it has become clear that our vaccine rollout has not been smooth …

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China’s Model of Innovation: Are There Lessons for African Countries?

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Introduction:- Innovation is known to be important for productivity and economic growth, while intellectual property rights are, in conventional economics models, thought to spur innovation. Yet China, which averaged over 6 percent annual economic growth for three decades and is often cited as a “growth miracle,” has been criticized for poor intellectual property rights protection …

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Q&A: Is China Really Delivering for Senegal In the Fight Against COVID-19?

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As the co-chair for the upcoming 2021 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Senegal is in a unique position to negotiate a better relationship with China as well as support other African countries to do so as well. At Development Reimagined, an African-led development consultancy in Beijing, we recently sat down with Mamadou Ndiaye, Senegal’s ambassador …

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How Can China Support Vaccine Deployment in Zimbabwe?

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Notorious for its hyperinflation, and its status as the 10th most fragile country on the Fragile States Index, Zimbabwe is perhaps one of the last countries you would have expected to be proactive in vaccination rollout. Yet, not only was Zimbabwe one of the first African countries to receive COVID-19 vaccine donations but has secured a substantial …

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Q&A: How the Chinese Private Sector Can Help Develop Pharmaceutical Production Capacity in Africa

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The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into sharp relief the highly unsustainable fact that African countries together import over 70% of all pharmaceutical and medical products. Yet, 34 out of 55 African countries have some level of pharmaceutical production, with countries offering an array of incentives to encourage pharmaceutical investment. These opportunities have been available and well known …

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How Would Africa Have Managed COVID-19 Without the Africa CDC? The Role of China

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Two types of images have dominated the global media’s coverage of Africa the past year. The first has been pictures of cargo planes packed with medical supplies, framing Africa’s COVID response as handled through foreign aid by partners such as China. The other image has been of Cameroonian virologist – Dr. John Nkengasong – making …

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Will Chinese-Made COVID-19 Vaccines Find Acceptance in Nigeria?

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It is widely accepted that vaccination is one of the most important achievements in public health. Yet, in the face of this ‘consensus’, vaccines are constantly challenged by individuals and groups on religious, and even political grounds. The determinants around vaccine acceptance or hesitance usually include public trust, the source of the vaccine, and socioeconomic …

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It’s Been One-Year Since the First COVID Case in Africa: China’s Contribution & COVID Year in Review

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On February 14th, 2020, Africa’s first COVID-19 case was reported in Egypt. Since then, there has been widespread speculation about why Africa has not experienced a mass COVID-19 outbreak. At Development Reimagined, our analysis reveals there is no single ‘Africa story’, and that decisive African leadership across the continent, supported by international cooperation, has led …

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“We cannot only look at China for financing, we need to look at FDI and trade”

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News from Ethiopia in early 2021 from many international media outlets has focused on whether the government will or will not ask for debt suspension or cancellation under a new framework that has been agreed by the Group of 20 countries, including China, in order to help poorer countries deal with COVID19. The framework is …

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Africa’s been constrained. It’s time to change that

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 “Is a new debt crisis mounting in Africa?” “Africa’s debt crisis hampers its fight against covid-19” and  “African nations sitting on debt volcano” These are all headlines from as far back as August 2019 , from various international and African media outlets, aiming to objectively inform the general public about Africa’s finances. The problem with …

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Q&A: Improving Trilateral Development Cooperation Among China, African Governments and External Partners

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China’s medical supplies for 18 African countries arrive at the Kotota International Airport in Accra, capital of Ghana, April 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Xu Zheng) Trilateral cooperation, a buzzword in the field of aid and development cooperation, refers to a “development relationship in which a DAC donor and/or multilateral agency ‘partners’ with a so-called ‘pivotal’ country (e.g. …

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A future COVID19 African debt crisis?

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Updated Every Two Weeks This week, we saw a major dispute unfold between Zambia and private sector lenders, who rejected the government’s request for a 6 month payment holiday, due to Zambia’s needs to spend on COVID19 management. The private sector lenders rejected this request, and by doing so fuelled concerns that “Africa” would be …

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Can African-Sino Agri-Health Cooperation Champion Green Recovery?

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For a moment it would seem that climate change has taken a backseat in the midst of a global pandemic, yet we are increasingly seeing the need to make linkages between COVID-19 response and climate action policies. What has been termed as “green recovery” refers to implementing policies that intrinsically are centered on sustainability while …

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“FOCAC at 20”

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Zhunjing de ge wei laibin, nushimen, xiangshimen, pengyoumen, da jia hão! Vice President Lu Cairong Chairperson Frolick Ambassador Zhao YanBo Distinguished Excellencies, guests ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,  it is a pleasure to be here and I would like to thank China Africa media publishing group and China International Publishing Group, People Daily online and Beijing …

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Q&A: Can Tanzania Resume and Reimagine Agricultural Trade With China in a Post-COVID-19 World?

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(Photo credit: Willem Van Cotthem 2016- Smallholder Sesame farmer in Tanzania) With the COVID-19 crisis disrupting regional and global trade, the Development Reimagined team spoke with H.E Mbelwa Kairuki, Tanzania’s ambassador to China, to get his take on Sino-Tanzania trade and what he and his team are doing to try to respond. DEVELOPMENT REIMAGINED: Ambassador …

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Will Africa’s First Free Trade Agreement With China Actually Help Africa?

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Famed for its natural beauty, surrounded by nothing but the Indian Ocean, tiny in size yet densely populated, understanding how Mauritius managed to become the most developed, diversified, and competitive economy in Africa is worth exploring. Overall, Mauritius’s economic growth is largely due to the government’s sustained commitment to diversifying sources of growth beyond the …

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Fresh or Frozen: Should Kenya and China Renegotiate Their 2019 “Avocado Deal”?

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Whether it is ordering a vegetarian wrap or having a healthy fruit and veggie smoothie, the most sought after ingredient I crave for is avocado! Today, be it Beijing or Shanghai, restaurant chains and smoothie bars, are now catering to their customers’ healthy tastes, delivering on this fruit in different meals and drinks. Whether fresh …

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Potential for Dairy-led Development Cooperation Between China and Africa

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Blue skies and cows grazing on pristine green pastures. Smiling celebrities. Cultural heritage sites and healthy lifestyle motifs. Milk products with these images fly off the shelves in China. It’ s ultra-high temperature (UHT) long-life milk, stocking refrigerators and stacked room temperature in premium packaging, cartons, and pouches. Tasting events are held weekly at hypermarkets …

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Q&A: Measuring the Effectiveness of Chinese Agricultural Assistance in Africa

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China has a long history of involvement in agriculture in Africa. As far back as 1959, China offered food grants to Guinea, and especially since the 2007 introduction of China’s “Agriculture Going Out” initiatives – a set of policies that encouraged Chinese agricultural companies to invest in Africa – Chinese agricultural engagement on the continent …

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Traditional Chinese Medicine is Gaining Traction in Africa. Can it Also Help in the Fight Against COVID-19?

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As COVID-19 has ravaged the globe, governments have had to face the grim reality of overwhelmed medical systems. The impact has been morbid, with over 7 million confirmed cases and over 400,000 deaths worldwide. In the absence of therapeutics or a vaccine, alternative curatives are becoming increasingly popular, the most recent being traditional herbal medicines. …

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COVID-19: How Can China Help African Countries Have a Stake in the Race for a Vaccine?

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Six months after the emergence of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, the global effort to develop appropriate vaccines and treatments is continuing at a pace. The WHO report that there are now 125 candidate vaccines in development, including 10 in clinical evaluation. In recent weeks, there has been controversy around the need for trials of vaccinations …

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Which African countries are winning the COVID19 fight, and how?

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Updated Weekly As world leaders meet virtually for the World Health Assembly this week, is it premature to be talking about winning the COVID19 fight? Over the past few months, as we have provided our weekly updates on what African countries are doing to tackle COVID19, we have noticed some positive trends, especially with respect …

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Are African countries getting enough support to deal with COVID19?

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Updated Weekly It’s been close to three months since the first COVID19 case was detected on the African continent. Over those three months we have seen some fairly unprecedented changes in global markets – for instance negative oil prices – as well as many “typical” changes – such as certain African markets’ being downgraded by …

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Are African countries easing lockdown too early?

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Updated Weekly As part of our now regular series of infographics on how COVID19 is affecting the African continent, and how governments  in the 55 countries are responding, this week we provide an update on what preventive measures African countries have put into place to “flatten the curve”. The last time we explored this question …

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How much are African countries spending to help the poorest deal with COVID19?

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Updated Weekly COVID19 first entered the African continent on 14th February 2020,  and since then many African governments have been responding with both speed and determination. Last week, we explored what governments are doing to “flatten the COVID19 curve”. This week we return to the question of what African countries are doing to support their …

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Are African countries flattening the COVID-19 curve?

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Updated Weekly For the last two weeks we have been publishing infographics on how COVID19 is affecting the African continent, and how governments  in the 55 countries are responding. Last week, we explored what measures are being introduced to support the economy and the poorest people in African countries. This week we return to the …

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How are African countries dealing with COVID-19’s economic impacts?

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Updated Weekly Last week, out of a frustration with the lack of coverage and understanding by our clients as well as the public on how COVID19 is affecting the African continent, we published an infographic that showed how the 55 countries in Africa are faring in terms of numbers and location of cases, as well …

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How is COVID-19 affecting Africa? Our Analysis in Numbers

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Updated Weekly Over the last few weeks, we have seen many think-tanks, consultancies and experts sharing information around COVID19 cases in Asia, Europe and the United States. But what about the African continent? How are the 55 countries in Africa faring? There is both good news and bad news… As part of Development Reimagined’s commitment …

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From Ebola to COVID-19: 4 Lessons China Can Apply to its Response in Africa

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Chinese military medical personnel attending a patient at a hospital in Freetown during the height of the Ebola crisis in Liberia in December 2014. Photo via Xinhua. Over the last few weeks, we have seen various Chinese actors launch significant campaigns in Africa to help tackle COVID-19. So far, the Chinese government has created numerous …

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China’s Coronavirus Slowdown: Which African Economies Will Be Hit Hardest?

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File photo, Kenyan nurse Lucy Kanyi demonstrates to media the facilities and protective equipment to be used to isolate and treat coronavirus cases, at the infectious disease unit of Kenyatta National Hospital in the capital Nairobi, Kenya. Credit: AP Photo/Patrick Ngugi, File COVID-19, first detected in Wuhan, China late last year, has so far spread to …

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Could the Coronavirus lead to a change of Africa-China trade patterns?

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A security personnel wearing protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly SARS-like virus which originated in the central city of Wuhan is seen at the entrance of subway station in Beijing on January 28, 2020. Photo Credit: NOEL CELIS / AFP With the recent Coronavirus, 2019-nCoV outbreak thrusting China into the limelight, the …

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Africa’s Coronavirus Challenge

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The decision whether to evacuate their citizens from China is just the first hurdle for African countries amid the outbreak To evacuate or not to evacuate. That is the question. African governments are currently struggling to decide whether to evacuate their students and citizens from the epicentre of the coronavirus, Hubei Province. The only way to …

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Opening Speech: Development Leaders Conference 2019

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President Jin Liqun, President Ahmed, Distinguished leaders, guests, ladies and gentlemen, It is an absolute honor to welcome you all to this conference. Thank you in particular to those who have travelled literally across the globe to be here. I certainly hope that you will return to your home countries enriched with new knowledge and …

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Countries along the Belt and Road- What does it all mean?

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The Development Reimagined Infographic series explores which countries are and aren’t signed up to China’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative Announced in 2013 by Chinese President Xi Jinping, The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has promised new business and development opportunities around the world, connecting regions of Asia, Europe and Africa in large investment and …

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From the soil: How one village cut poverty through…flowers?

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Hannah Ryder, CEO Development Reimagined explores how one village in China, that initially grew just one crop, has cut poverty in just a decade… but will it last? Can the same be done elsewhere? Watch her vlog to find out!   Shanlian, a village outside Wuxi in Jiangsu Province of China, has recently gained national …

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Speech: Caught in between the West vs China – can Africa rise to the play?

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Good afternoon everyone. The title of the keynote I’ve been asked to give to you today is “caught in between the West vs China – can Africa rise to the play?” The way I interpret this is how African countries – via communications professionals like yourselves in this room – can carve out a distinct …

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China’s Debt Relief along the Belt and Road – What’s the Story?

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Development Reimagined’s infographic series With the second Belt and Road Forum (BRF) kicking off, all eyes are on China to understand more about the far- reaching Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the potential impacts and opportunities for developing countries. Those 124 countries who have signed BRI MOUs in particular are keen to understand more …

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Who is looking out for African companies in China?

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This year I got a great, albeit unusual Christmas present. On Christmas Day, my company, Development Reimagined – the first Kenyan Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise in Beijing – was accepted as a member of the China Africa Business Council (CABC) also based in Beijing. It was a proud moment. To date, the CABC membership has …

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Industrialization – Why African countries can’t directly copy China’s experience

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African countries are seeking to industrialize. From Addis Ababa to Dakar, Cape Town to Cairo, the impetus to manufacture is now a priority for much of the continent. As the President of the African Development Bank Akinwumi Adesina put it: “the secret of the wealth of nations is clear: developed countries add value to everything …

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Is FOCAC Unique? Read our new Background Brief

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Having kept the meeting date hush-hush until just two weeks ago, governments across the African continent are preparing their final briefings and security plans for the seventh Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Ministerial, and Third FOCAC Summit. To be held on 3-4 September in Beijing, the forum is entering its 18th year since its …

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Speech: Making Africa Move – The New Belt and Road Opportunity

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Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning! It is my honor to be here today, I am the CEO of an international development consultancy called Rui Na Xin (Development Reimagined), and the former deputy country director for UNDP here in China. Today I have the great pleasure to share opportunities for China’s logistics companies and …

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Speech: The Africa China Child turns 18 – What Next?

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Good afternoon distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen! Thank you so much to Kente and Silk for organising this event, China-Africa Stories, and for the kind invitation to speak today. I must apologise that I was not able to join and hear the other speeches and panel discussions this morning,  as I have a regular commitment …

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Development Reimagined supports Beijing’s first Africa Week

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Introduction: Development Reimagined supports Beijing’s first Africa Week. Development Reimagined is one of the sponsors of the week, amongst others such as OFO, Hotel Jen and many more. In particular, we have supported the sifting of applicants for a start-up competition for new African businesses here in China. The start-up will win the proceedings of …

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Who does China prioritise? Our first infographic sheds some light

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Whether you see it as taking place at the beginning of the calendar year or at the end of the Chinese year, the now annual visit by the Chinese Foreign Minister to the African continent is a remarkable tradition. Alongside its latest Africa policy white paper, it makes China’s foreign policy quite unique compared to …

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Op-Ed: The China Factor in Kenya and Zimbabwe

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Ask anyone with a basic knowledge of Africa which country is more poised for success – Zimbabwe or Kenya – and he or she will undoubtedly answer “Kenya.” Events of the last week would seem to confirm that verdict. On Monday, after Kenya’s Supreme Court upheld the reelection of President Uhuru Kenyatta in the country’s …

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Opinion: Peacekeeping – how do others compare to China?

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Here in China it’s been impossible to miss the fact that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is celebrating its 90th anniversary this week. There’s been a grand parade, numerous articles about its history and new endeavors – for example PLA’s first overseas base in Djibouti in Africa -, and there is even a new …

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The Imperialist People’s Republic of Africa?

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A few months ago, a New York Times magazine cover was emblazoned with the question “Is China the World’s New Colonial Power?” The notion that China is a twenty-first-century colonizer is not new: commentators have been batting it around for a decade. But, to anyone who has experienced or even studied colonialism, the claim seems …

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Speech: Creating jobs and entrepreneurs along the Belt and Road – how can China help?

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Creating jobs and entrepreneurs is key for sustainable development; At least three ways China can use the Belt and Road Initiaitve to create jobs and entrepreneurs across the world; China’s local governments should use “going out” strategically to innovate and accelerate their shift away from manufacturing. Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. I was …

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Opinion: What an economist’s journeys tell us about Kenya’s new China-built train

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As a small child growing up in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, our annual family holiday to the beautiful beaches of Mombasa always began and ended with a degree of trepidation.  My sister and I would jump into the car and during the journey along the then notoriously treacherous single-lane highway, we would pass the time …

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Opinion: How can African countries get the most from Belt and Road?

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Living in China, it’s been impossible to miss the country’s first ever Belt and Road Forum (BRF). The forum concluded on Monday, with outputs including a detailed declaration and numerous — over 270 — bilateral deals in areas such as infrastructure, manufacturing and services.As was articulated recently by the head of the UN in China, …

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Speech: China-Africa reporting needs more oil!

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尊敬的各位来宾，女士们, 先生们, 大家下午好！Wanawake  na mabwana, Habari zenu! Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. It is a real pleasure to be here today to open this first ever award ceremony aiming to both recognise and incentivise the best Chinese reporting on my home continent, Africa. Thank you for the invitation from both Tsinghua University and the Gates …

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Opinion: A champion of globalisation? A response to Trump’s travel ban would show China’s real intentions

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“Pursuing protectionism is like locking oneself in a dark room” was one of the many memorable quotations from President Xi Jinping’s historic speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, just under a month ago. It was the first time a Chinese President had addressed the elite crowd, and President Xi certainly made the right …

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Opinion: Is China really helping Africa?

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There is no doubt that relations between China and African countries are becoming ever more intertwined and important. In what has now become an annual tradition to visit Africa as a priority continent at the beginning of the year, Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to five African countries illustrates the close relationship. China’s top foreign …

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Change is in the Air for 2015

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Throughout my career, I’ve worked in large organisations. And every single large organisation – from highly profitable businesses to multilateral institutions – goes through swings and cycles of “change processes”. The organisation I work in now, UNDP, has just gone through a “change process” to decentralise operations from New York to regional centres and country …

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How can we scale up fortuitous partnerships?

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A couple of weekends ago, the Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang made his first ever trip to Africa, visiting Angola, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Kenya. This was a significant date. 50 years ago, the then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai made the first ever official Chinese visit to Africa. In Kenya, as with visits to other countries, …

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