China in Africa Blog Wins Danwei Award

Today I was informed that this blog, China in Africa: the Real Story, won a Danwei Model Worker Awards 2012. What's that, you might ask? Apparently it's "a list of the best specialist websites, blogs and online sources of information about China." Danwei is "a website and research firm that tracks Chinese media and Internet."

Thanks, Danwei, and a hat tip to Jan Berris at the National Committee for US China Relations, for letting me know.

Does China Use Aid to Support Investment?

I address this question in the latest issue of East Asia Forum, 4, 2 (April - June 2012). Published by Australia National University in Canberra, the EAF was released at a very interesting (but unfortunately closed) conference at Columbia University/Business School on Monday this week, focused on the political and economic impact of China's overseas direct investment (ODI or OFDI).

For a link to the public forum that evening, including short talks by some participants and a keynote by Jeffrey Sachs, click here. Although Sachs is no expert on Chinese overseas investment, he is a passionate advocate for the earth. It's good to be passionate, and it's pretty rare for academics ...

"When China Met Africa" at Center for Global Development

The Center for Global Development presents a Global Development Matters Movie Night with
When China Met Africa
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 5:00pm–6:30pm **Light refreshments provided** Featuring Nick Francis Co-Writer, -Producer and -Director, "When China Met Africa" Co-Founder, Speak-it With Discussant Deborah Brautigam Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute Professor, School of International Service, American University (on leave 2011-2012) Hosted By Vijaya Ramachandran Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development Click to RSVP LOCATION Center for Global Development Third Floor 1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036 METRO Dupont Circle (Red line)   Please bring photo identification   CONTACT events@cgdev.org 202-416-4000 CGD is pleased to announce the first screening of its annual summer film series, Global Development Matters. The 2012 series will commence on June 20 with a screening of "When China Met Africa." The film portrays the expanding footprint of a rising global power through the stories of three characters: Zambia’s trade minister, Felix Mutati; a Chinese farm-owner; and a project manager for a Chinese multinational company. The film explores the daily dependency and friction between the characters and points to a radically different future, not just for Africa, but also for the world. Nick Francis and his brother, Marc Francis, are award-winning filmmakers and the co-founders of the London based film company, 'Speak-it.' Their work deconstructs contemporary global issues into relevant and engaging stories for international audiences. Their first feature film "Black Gold", a story about one man’s struggle to save 74,000 coffee farmers from bankruptcy, was released to critical acclaim worldwide changing the way millions of people and companies think about coffee. "When China Met Africa" is their most recent film. Deborah Brautigam is an expert in China-Africa relations and author of the book, The Dragon's Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa.