Instituto de Estudos Sociais e Economicos & South African Institute of International Affairs cordially invites you to the conference: China in Africa, Sino-Mozambican relations at a crossroads.

Date:        9 September 2010
Time:       08:30, for registration
Venue:     Indy Village, Maputo
RSVP:      Bernardete Buque (IESE)
Email: Bernardete.Buque@iese.ac.mz

Please confirm your attendance early as seating will be allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Background
The dawn of the 21st century brought with it the promise of economic revival for many African countries, driven primarily by surging worldwide demand for Africa’s abundant stock of natural resources and a new realism amongst the continent’s leaders. With it came a renewed interest of foreign governments and companies willing to invest in the continent with China’s own search for new sources of raw materials and markets at the head.

As a result, and in less than a decade, China has achieved a significant economic and diplomatic standing on the continent. Indeed, China has not only become the continent’s major trading partner but has also managed to carved out strong positions in many different sectors, namely, infrastructure rehabilitation and construction, oil and mining. As China’s economic interests in the continent grow deeper its engagement tends to become more complex in its content and outcomes, inflating its influence over the region. Africa has been playing an increasing important role in Chinese foreign policy decision-making and this is of interest to the rest of the world in general and to Africa in particular.

Purpose
The goal of this seminar is to assist African policy makers, institutions, trade unions and civil society to recognise the opportunities and challenges presented by China’s growing commitment to the continent. We wish to make a strong contribution to a better understanding of this new African reality by focusing on, first, China’s growing engagement in specific economic sectors as well as African responses and, secondly, the particular case of Mozambique, which shall be discussed in detail in the second half of the seminar.

The conference is jointly organised by the South African Institute of International Affairs (China in Africa project, Joburg) and Instituto de Estudos Sociais e Economicos (IESE). Presenters include experienced researchers based in London, South Africa, Mozambique and China all of which have been following closely this topic for many years. This conference forms part of SAIIA’s ‘China in Africa’ ongoing policy-relevant research aimed at investigating the emerging relationship between China and Africa, analysing the character and content of China’s trade and foreign policy towards the continent, studying the implications of this strategic cooperation in the political, military, economic and diplomatic fields and the impact in regional economic development.

Targeted public
Our targeted public are policy makers (legislative and executive branches), relevant ministries cadres (Foreign Affairs, Finance, Commerce, Infrastructure, Agriculture, etc.), foreign diplomatic missions, IGO’s and NGO’s, academic community, business community, journalists and general public.

PROGRAMME

08:30 - 9:30–Registration
09:30-10:00 – Opening Remarks– IESE, SAIIA

10:00 / 12:45 – Part I ‘China in Africa: developments and challenges’
Moderator: Sanusha Naidu (Fahamu)
10:00 –10.25 - China in Africa: the challenges of consolidation, Chris Alden (SAIIA/LSE)
10:25 - 10:50 - Relationship – Power in International Negociations: Envisioning a Healthy Africa-China, Jose Cossa (Austin University)
10:50 – 11:15 –Q &A
11:15 – 11:30 – Coffee Break
11:30 – 11:55 – China’s engagement in resources sectors in Africa, Ana C. Alves (SAIIA)
11:55 – 12:20 – Zooming on the Dragon's Wings- Chinese Business and Industrial Development in Ghana
Isaac Idun-Arkhurst
12:20 – 12:45 – Q & A
12:45 – 14:00 – Lunch Break
14:00 / 16:30 – Part II ‘Debating Sino-Mozambican relations’
Moderator: Chris  Alden (SAIIA/LSE)
14:00 – 14:25 – Emerging economies in the agriculture sector in Mozambique: impact and challenges, Sérgio Chichava (IESE)
14:25 – 14:50 – Chinese engagement in extractive industries in Mozambique, Jonas Pohlman e Caroline Slaven (Research Associates IESE)
14:50 – 15:15 - The Media’s perspective on China’s presence in Mozambique (IESE)
15:15 – 16:00 – Q & A
16:00 – 16:30 - Closing Remarks (IESE/SAIIA)