Dr. William Lyakurwa

Executive Director of African Economic Research Consortium (AERC)

 [Our] role is to conduct research in order to inform policy making communities in China and Africa. When policymakers are informed, they make better decisions. AERC currently has links with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and our intention is to strengthen this relationship with CASS and other think tanks. Experiences vary across regions, and having a cooperative agreement with think tanks spread across China will give us a better feel of the economic development processes in China.

China is an emerging superpower economically, politically and militarily. Hence, getting a better feel of the Chinese development experience, its role in the international community and how it managed to reduce poverty among its people are important lessons for us. From the Chinese point of view, China would need to know what is happening in Africa to take advantage of the emerging situation. China is an important trading partner with many African countries and trade requires a better understanding of local situations. Think tanks can play that role.