Dr. Adams Bodomo

Director of African Studies Program, the University of Hong Kong

Here are at least three of the things we must do. First, the relationship needs to be focused between Africa and China and not overly influenced or even directed by third parties. Second, we need to begin to look more and more at people-to-people relations and ensure that Chinese are safe and respected in Africa and Africans are safe and respected in China. Third, we need to candidly discuss potential pitfalls that can hamper Africa-China relations and find ways to stem these. Scholars can research and try to influence new policies on these issues.

I expect CATTF to be a brainstorming and getting-to-know-each-other event. Personally, I will be giving what I consider to be an important paper on Chinese investment in Africa. I suggest that the Chinese and African governments create research funding programs through which joint groups of scholars in Africa and China can cooperate on research that [will] bring out new ideas for improving Africa-China relations.