The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Institute for African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, co-organised a conference on FOCAC and Sino-African relations on 18-19 November 2010. The aim of the conference was to provide a forum for leading African and Chinese scholars to present research findings involved in critical areas of Africa-China relations and discuss in a closed setting key issues, perspectives and problems experienced in the course of such research.

Interest in the conference was very high, with attendance on the first day of the invitation-only public event over-subscribed and the national and international media involved. The conference was opened by Vice President Xi Jinping, who spoke directly to the conference delegates, about the relationship in the context of FOCAC, particular thoughts on China-South Africa relations and some of the challenges facing Africa-China ties. South African Deputy Minister for International Relations and Cooperation, Ebriham Ebriham then discussed the emerging comprehensive strategic partnership between South Africa and China, including the recent areas of cooperation in the energy sphere. This was followed by a speech by Chen Yuan, the head of the influential China Development Bank (CDB) – the firm managing the $5 bn China-Africa Development Fund – who provided an overview of CDB’s activities in Africa and future trajectories. Dr Chris Alden led a lively panel discussion, involving Prof He Wenping (CASS), Dr Garth le Pere (DAPO), Prof Wu Fengmin (ZNU) and Dr Mzu Qobo (SAIIA), which debated questions such as the role of China in Africa’s ‘deindustrialisation’, the ‘greening’ of the FOCAC process and South Africa/China positions in the G-20.

The second day of the conference was closed to the public, with SAIIA and IAS-ZNU selecting the participants for the six panels being convened. Moletsi Mbeki set the tone for the day in his opening speech with a frank assessment of the negative impact that Chinese trade competitiveness is having on Africa’s industrial sector. The themes for the panels were deliberated chosen by SAIIA and IAS-ZNU to ensure that substantive deliberation between researchers would take place. The frank and constructive nature of discussions which enable presenters from Africa and China to develop a better understanding of their particular perspectives on issues, the areas of convergence and divergence, and the possibilities for better cooperation.