China Africa Talk

Which coffees have captured your taste buds so far? Maybe it's the smooth Geisha from Panama? The exotic Kopi Luwak from Indonesia or the renowned Blue Mountain Coffee from Jamaica? Let's narrow the choice a little. What about African coffees? Perhaps you are a fan of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe or Kenya AA? Andrew Gatera is a passionate advocate for the coffee from his country, Rwanda, known as the country of a thousand hills. Gatera sets his sights on expanding Rwanda coffee's reach in the Chinese market via the China International Import Expo or CIIE. He shares his experiences at CIIE and his goals to introduce Rwandan coffee to the world.

The phrase "all-weather friend," first coined by Zambia's founding father Kenneth Kaunda to describe China, has become a defining term for the solid friendship between China and Zambia, and more broadly, between China and Africa. This year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Zambia. As both nations move forward, the revitalization of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway is set to deepen their bond.

South Africa's choral music resonates at China's 600-year-old Temple of Heaven. Making its debut at the 2024 Beijing Music Festival, Cape Town Opera captivated Chinese audiences with rich harmonies and vibrant expressions of South African music and culture.

The 16th BRICS Summit, taking place under Russia’s chairmanship in Kazan from October 22–24, marks a historic moment with the inclusion of five new members: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Ethiopia. Notably, African countries now represent one-third of the bloc's membership, strengthening the platform for Africa's voices on the global stage. As Egypt and Ethiopia join South Africa in the BRICS, the summit offers an important opportunity for the continent to advocate for its economic development, global governance reform, and greater South-South cooperation.

"Small and Beautiful" projects emerge as a vital component of China-Africa cooperation. These initiatives focus on providing localized, targeted solutions to Africa's unique social and economic challenge. As they continue to gain momentum, they demonstrate the potential for China's engagement in Africa to address not only top-down, macro-level growth but also everyday needs of Africans.

China-Africa cooperation spans from monumental infrastructural projects like Nigeria's Lekki DeepSea Port and the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway to grassroots initiatives such as the promotion of Juncao technology program and the Luban Workshop. Over the next three years, 1000 additional"Small and Beautiful" projects will take root across the African continent. We speak with Liu Zhiqin and Charles Onunaiju to explore how these "Small and Beautiful" projects are positively impacting local communities.

October 1st marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The 75 years has witnessed the strengthening of relations between China and Africa. China played a crucial role in Africa's liberation movements and has been a key contributor to the continent's modernization efforts. Africa was instrumental in facilitating China's resumption of UN membership, standing with China on various international platforms. David Monyae and Liu Baocheng walk us through the political choices and shared ideals that have tied China and Africa together over these decades.

The growing cooperation between China and Africa extends beyond trade and investment, reaching into the realm of culture, including cuisines. In this episode, we meet two young men from Ghana, who are adding flavors of West Africa to Beijing's diverse culinary scene.

The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) marks a pivotal moment in China-Africa relations, with the relationship now viewed as the strongest in history. But why is this the case? In this episode, we’ll break down the key takeaways from the summit and explore how this deepened partnership is shaping the future of China-Africa cooperation.

China and South Africa have elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership for the new era, marking a significant milestone in their deepening ties and paving the way for new avenues of cooperation. In an exclusive address, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasizes the mutual trust and collaboration that form the cornerstone of their relationship, driving robust bilateral trade and investment and strengthening their partnership on the global stage.