Africa-China Think Tanks Forum Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
AFRICA-CHINA THINK TANKS FORUM REPORT LUSAKA. ZAMBIA MAY 2019 AFRICA-CHINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENDA - OPPORTUNITIES FOR BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE AND FOCAC Sub-Theme: Re-Branding Africa as a Premiere Destination AFRICA CHINA THINK TANKS FORUM REPORT Africa-China Economic Development Agenda - Opportunities for Belt and Road Initiative and FOCAC Sub-theme: Re-Branding Africa as a Premiere Destination This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by the laws of The Republic of Zambia. This electronic representation of PMRC intellectual property is provided for non- commercial use only. Unauthorized posting of PMRC electronic documents to a non-PMRC website is prohibited. PMRC electronic documents are protected under copyright law. Permission is required from PMRC to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of our research documents for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please see PMRC Permissions . (www.pmrczambia.com/copyright). The PMRC is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decision-making through research and analysis. PMRC’s publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors. ® is a registered trademark. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 4 Panel Discussion Highlights 17 Organization and Attendance 6 Topic 5: Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on African 17 Manufacturing and Industrialization (Opportunities) for BRI Overview 7 Highlights 17 Forum Presentations and Discussions 9 Topic 1: Role of African Think Tanks in Spearheading the Challenges 18 - 19 African Development Agenda Solutions 20 Role of African Think Tanks 9 Topic 6: Impact of the US-China Trade War on Africa’s Development 21 Panel Discussion 10 Agenda Topic 2: China-Africa Opportunities of the Belt and Road 11 Topic 7: Re-Branding Africa in the New Global Order 25 Initiative (BRI) and Forum on China-Africa Corporation (FOCAC) Highlights of the presentation 25 Key Highlights from the Presentation 11 Plenary Highlights 26 Photo Focus 27 - 34 Plenary Highlights 12 - 13 Annex 35 Topic 3: Is Africa on the Rise or Falling? What Economic 14 Programme Day 1 & 2 35 - 37 Opportunities and Challenges Exist and How to Overcome These? Key Speech by His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of 39 Zambia Is Africa on the Rise or Falling 14 Other Speeches 43 - 54 Are Africans Rising or Falling 14 Lusaka Declaration 55 - 59 Solutions 15 Links to Presentations 60 Panel Discussion Highlights 15 Topic 4: Opportunities and Challenges of Bilateral 16 and Multilateral Relations Between African and Other Countries: A Case Of Africa – China Relations Key Challenges 16 Opportunities 16 2 | Africa China Think Tanks Forum - Report Africa China Think Tanks Forum - Report | 3 Introduction The Zambian Government has in the recent past been pursuing the country’s aspirations as enshrined in its By December 2018, China’s total imports and exports with Africa were US$18.27 Seventh National Development Plan which is the country’s blue-print for development for the next five years, billion, up 15.5% year on year and 2.1% month on month. Among these, China’s up to 2021, and broadly envisions and smartly articulates a prosperous middle-income economy that offers exports to Africa were US$9.55 billion, up 3.9% year on year and 3.0% month on decent employment opportunities for all Zambians of different skills and background and will be achieved month; China’s imports from Africa were US$8.72 billion, up 33.7% year on year by harnessing opportunities for economic diversification and growth. It is a building block formulated to and 2.2% month on month; the trade surplus was US$840 million, down 68.7% meet the goals contained in the Vision 2030. This effort requires periodic reviews of country and continental year on year and up 13.5% month on month. progress being made towards development plans and Africa’s aspirations as enshrined in the African Union Agenda 2063 respectively. The Policy Monitoring and Research Centre in its efforts to champion economic development in Zambia and US$18.27 December 2018, China’s im- Africa recently partnered with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Zambia to host the Africa- Billion port and export with Africa China Think Tanks Forum themed “Africa-China Economic Development Agenda-Opportunities for Belt US$9.55 China’s exports to Africa and Road Initiative & FOCAC,” with the sub-theme of “Rebranding Africa as a Premiere Destination.” The Billion objectives of the Forum were to promote Africa’s Global Economic Cooperation through sharing knowledge Imports US$8.71 and research outcomes on infrastructure, economic development, trade facilitation and initiating the process & Exports Billion China’s imports from Africa to establish renewed networking among African think tanks network committed to building great cooperation with China and the rest of the world. “Rebranding Africa as a Premiere Destination” was the sub-theme of the Forum with emphasis on African continental branding as a tool to contribute materially to solidifying, combining, projecting, and in some cases, driving the positive elements that are bringing about the emerging In 2018, the growth rate of China’s trade with Africa was the highest in the world. and fast-growing optimistic outlook. This outlook if vigorously and smartly pursued is envisaged to produce The import growth rate was also the highest in the world, 15 percentage points and serve to improve dramatically the continent’s attractiveness to tourists and investors as well as its higher than our import growth rate of foreign trade in the same period.” capabilities to compete effectively regionally and internationally. It is evident that as a rising continent, Africa needs to be more deeply engaged The African Union adopted Agenda 2063 as a roadmap for continental development by aligning thinking from with China’s grand vision of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Forum across the continent and distilling the vision in a set of aspirations. on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) which is viewed as a mini-version of multilateral cooperation that will aid implementation of BRI projects. For African “According to statistics provided by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, in 2018, countries, there are more reasons for China to share its development experiences China’s total import and export volume with Africa was US$204.19 billion, a year-on-year increase of 19.7%, considering the common shared history and development paths. It is therefore exceeding the overall growth rate of foreign trade in the same period by 7.1 percentage points. Among these, imperative that African countries develop their own “homegrown solutions that China’s exports to Africa were US$104.91 billion, up 10.8% and China’s imports from Africa were US$99.28 actively seek to shape their partnerships with China to achieve country and the billion, up 30.8%; the surplus was US$5.63 billion, down 70.0% year on year. African continent’s goals. CHINA US$204.19 Billion China’s import and export volume China’s exports to Africa US$104.91 Billion China’s imports from Africa US$99.28 Billion 2018, China’s total import and export volume with Africa was US$204.19 billion. AFRICA 4 | Africa China Think Tanks Forum - Report Africa China Think Tanks Forum - Report | 5 Overview Opening remarks were delivered by the PMRC Executive Director Mrs. Bernadette Deka Zulu, H.E Mr. Li Jie, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Hon. Margaret Mwanakatwe, Minister of Finance H.E Dr. Organization and Attendance Kenneth Kaunda, 1st Republican President of Zambia and H.E Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of Zambia who was represented by Hon. Alexander Chiteme, Minister of National Development Planning. The forum was held on the 23rd and 24th May 2019 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka Zambia and attended by more than 120 delegates drawn from Think-Tanks, Academic institutions and His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s keynote address noted the critical Governments from several African countries and China. The format of the forum included the role that think-tanks play towards complimenting Government’s Socio- presentation and discussion of seven topics that included; economic development objectives and hoped for enhanced development cooperation between China and Africa in all aspects. President Lungu noted • Role of African Think Tanks in spearheading the African Development Agenda. the increase in Chinese investment in Zambia and Africa over the years as • China-Africa Opportunities of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and forum On China-Africa well as Zambia’s quest to become a manufacturing and industrialisation Corporation (FOCAC). hub. The Head of State further noted that the Belt and Road Initiative was a global landmark venture that was poised to massively improve trade • Is Africa on the Rise or Falling? What Economic Opportunities and Challenges exist and how between China and its partners. The President hailed the initiatives under to overcome these? FOCAC that have spearheaded international cooperation and become significant reminder of the effectiveness of South-to-South cooperation. • Opportunities and Challenges Of Bilateral And Multilateral Relations Between African And The creation of a single market for goods and services, with free movement Other Countries: A Case Of Africa – China Relations. of business people and investments will help bring closer the continental customs union and Africa’s common market that will expand intra-African • Impact of The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) On African Manufacturing And Industrialization trade. President Lungu urged African countries to consolidate development (Opportunities) For BRI). paths and pursue joint strategies in engaging China. • Impacts of US-China Trade war on Africa’s Development Agenda. • Re-branding Africa in the New Global World Order.