Africa Initiative to present ‘Africa and China in the 21st Century: The Search for a Mutually Beneficial Relationship’ symposium April 8-10

The Africa Initiative of Syracuse University, in collaboration with Fahamu Networks for Social Justice, will host “Africa and China in the 21st Century: The Search for a Mutually Beneficial Relationship,” a three-day symposium, April 8-10 in the Maxwell School. The symposium will feature progressive intellectuals and scholars from North America, China and Africa gathering to deliberate on the nature and future of Sino-African relations.

The symposium is free and open to the public; a full schedule of events will be posted to the Africa Initiative website in the coming days. 

The keynote address will be delivered at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 8, by H.E. Ambassador Tete Antonio, permanent representative of the African Union to the United Nations. The symposium will include a special plenary session featuring Ambassador Stanislaus Di-Aiping, Sudan’s permanent representative to the United Nations and chief negotiator for the Group of 77 in the climate change talks in Copenhagen in December 2009.

Other scheduled speakers include:

• Sanusha Naidu, research director of the China in Africa Project, Fahamu-South Africa;
• Du Xiaocong, deputy permanent representative, permanent mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations;
• Dunia Zongwe, fellow of the Institute for African Development at Cornell University;
• Horace Campbell, SU professor of African American studies and political science; and
• Kwabena Otoo, director of the Labour Research and Policy Institute, Accra.

Select themes under discussion will include labor issues and the rights of African workers; infrastructure development; China’s win-win strategy and Africa’s extractive industries; African studies in 21st-century greater China; and Africa, China, the G-77 and ongoing climate change discourse.

The symposium is co-sponsored by the Department of African American Studies; the African Student’s Union; and the International Relations Program, East Asia Program and Executive Education Program at the Maxwell School.

The Africa Initiative of Syracuse University is based in the Department of African American Studies in SU’s College of Arts and Sciences. It aims to spearhead a revitalized scholarly interest and focus on Africa as an important site of knowledge by providing a platform for scholars and practitioners to re-engage with the continent.

Fahamu Networks for Social Justice is an international nonprofit organization that endeavors to build the capacity of African human rights and social justice movements.

The symposium is free and open to the public, but those interested in attending are encouraged to R.S.V.P. to wmahenge@syr.edu by March 30. For information, call 443-4180 or e-mail africain@syr.edu.