May 8, 2012
Time: 9.00am – 2.00pm

Forum Objectives

•To  better understand  the FOCAC process
•To discuss the social, political, economic and environmental impact of China’s presence in Africa
•To propose a value added approach to Africa’s engagement with China 

The Inter Region Economic Network (IREN) and WWF Africa will host a special half day forum for government, business, scholars, researchers, think tank and civil society leaders on May 8, 2012 to brainstorm on the growing relationship between China and Africa. Participation will be run on “Hot Seat” basis.

This forum will serve as a preparatory session towards the upcoming China – Africa forum organized by IREN and the Chinese embassy in Nairobi set for June 2012 and is open to only 20 participants on first come and first get invited basis!

To participate in this event please email the IREN Events Manager, Zaina Shisia, at [email protected] by April 25, 2012.

Background

China and Africa have enjoyed a friendship spanning several centuries. In recent years, China has deepened its cooperation with Africa in political, economic and cultural areas through the creation of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

IREN hosted its first Sino – Africa brainstorming forum jointly with the China Institutes of Contemporary Relations (CICIR) in December 3, 2010. Its second forum was jointly hosted with Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS) in January 3, 2011.

IREN was represented during the launch of the China-Africa Joint Research and Exchange Program and Academic Conference on Peace and Development in Africa and China Africa Cooperation held in Beijing on March 30 – 31, 2010. IREN was subsequently nominated to serve on the Provisional Steering Group (PSG) that organized and hosted the first conference in Africa with the theme Towards a New Africa-China Partnership on March 28-29, 2011, in Nairobi Kenya. IREN was retained on the Steering Committee in the conference communiqué tasked to establish an African Forum for Study and Research on China and China – Africa Relations.