Africa Initiative presents 'Africa and China in the 21st Century’

The Search for a Mutually Beneficial Relationship (Symposium, 8-10 April 2010)

The , 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 from 8-10 April, in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. 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 pm, Thursday 8 April by H.E. Ambassador Tete Antonio, permanent representative of the African Union to the United Nations.

Other scheduled speakers include:
- Sanusha Naidu, research director of China in Africa Project, Fahamu-South Africa
- Du Xiaocong, deputy permanent representation, 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, professor of African American Studies and Political Science at SU
- Kwabena Otoo, Director of the Labour Research and Policy Institute, Accra

Select themes under discussion will include, among others, 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 on-going climate change discourse.

The symposium is free to public, but those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP to wmahenge [AT"> syr [DOT"> edu by March 30. For information, call 443-4180 or email africain [AT"> syr [DOT"> edu.

* The symposium is co-sponsored by the Department of African American Studies; 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 the 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 non-profit organisation that endeavours to build the capacity of African human rights and social justice movements.