16 Jun 2014

Africa-China Research Group (ACRG) is to establish a centre for Africa-China studies to encourage a more intensified research programme and increased research collaboration.

The decision was reached at the just ended conference organised by the ACRG which was themed “Africa-China, advancing mutual understanding through multi-disciplinary research”.

Giving a keynote address at the conference senior programme officer, Research, Policy and Strategy Development at the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Professor Jonathan Kaunda said SADC appreciated the importance and the objectives of ACRG.

Professor Kaunda said there was a need for a multi-disciplinary forum to present research findings on Africa-China relations, adding that the advantage of the forum was that it would enhance networking, promote dialogue, mutual exchange of information and experiences.

He said it was important when the research findings reflected on current situations and provide analytical insights into the social, cultural, economic and political dynamics in which their countries were involved.

“China is important on the global scale, Africa-China relations are long standing and focus on cooperation, mutual benefit and political equality,” professor Kaunda said.

He noted that China’s focus was on regional integration not just bilateral relations, noting that there was very little research examining the interactions of China with Africa’s regional economic community.

Professor Kaunda said China appeared to have a strategy for Africa but there does not appear to be an African Union (AU) and a SADC strategy for Africa that has been arranged.

“It is up to the research community to verify whether it is true and it is an area worth exploring”, he said.

He said research was critical as it provides data and information for decision making, development policies and for implementing them to benefit the society.

For his part the ambassador of China to Botswana Mr Zheng Zhuqiang said the conference was a platform for exchanging views and strengthening Africa-China relations.

“It also promotes research between Africa-China topics and also strengthen the research base between institutions”, he said.

Ambassador Zhuqiang said China and Botswana had maintained close bilateral ties in many areas which have been done in the spirit of equality and respect.

He noted that China displayed the willingness and accommodation of Africa as a strategic partner.

 Ambassador Zhuqiang said the relationship between Africa and China was consistent with the trends of the world.

Deputy vice chancellor- Academic Affairs in the University of Botswana, professor Otlogetswe Totolo said there was an increasing significance of China’s engagement with Africa hence it was timely that the UB had organised a conference on the many different facets of the topic.

He said that China was no longer an emerging economy but an economy that was leading.

Professor Totolo said the conference had significant contribution towards meeting UBs’ strategic goals as it strived to be the centre of academic excellence in Africa and the world.

 He spoke of internationalisation of the institution, stressing the need to be connected to the world through student exchange, staff exchange, research collaboration and internalisation of the curriculum.

Professor Totolo also said it was necessary to extend international partnership in Africa, Europe and China.

He said UB aspired to be a research intensive university and had established a Confucius Institute in partnership with Shanghai Normal University to provide language and cultural training to students and staff.

He reiterated that the formation of ACRG was very timely and thanked the Chinese Embassy for funding the initiative and Chinese companies operating in Botswana for their financial contributions. ENDS