Discussion | Asia in Africa: New Connections in Historical Perspective

The growing Asian presence in Africa invites a reconsideration of the opportunities and challenges provided by this dynamic relationship. And yet, these new connections are too often framed in light of the competition they provide for Western interests. Part of the 2010-2011 World and Africa Series, the Asia in Africa: New Connections in Historical Perspective panel seeks instead to probe the economic, political, and social relations unfolding on African soil between Asians and Africans for their implications for African development prerogatives. In this light, we seek to explore the possibility of building mutually beneficial partnerships that couple Asia’s growing interests in the region with sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction for Africans.

Confirmed Speakers:

Howard French (moderator) is an associate professor at Columbia University's Journalism School. Since 1986, he has reported for the Times from Central America, the Caribbean, West and Central Africa, Japan, Korea and now China. His work has been published in The Nation, the New York Review of Books, Transition, Rolling Stone, The New York Times Magazine, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Crisis, and Travel and Leisure. He is the author of A Continent for the Taking: The Tragedy and Hope of Africa (2004), which was named non-fiction book of the year by several newspapers, and won the 2005 American Library Association Black Caucus Award for Non-Fiction.

Deborah Brautigam is a professor at American University's School of International Service. Her research focuses on China-Africa relations, foreign aid, industrialization, state-building, and development. She is the author of The Dragon's Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa (Oxford University Press, 2009).

Abdoulie Janneh is the United Nations Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) at the level of Under-Secretary-General. Mr. Janneh has played an instrumental role in strategy and policy-setting in the UN Development Programme and championed institutional change and development in the organization.

Wang Hongyi is Associate Director of the Developing Countries Research Department at the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) and Secretary General of the African Research Centre. His research focuses on developments in the African continent, Sino-African relations and on Sino- African cooperation in the field of energy.