Lecture on China-Africa Cooperation in Trade, Investment, and the Great Power Competition

On April 11, 2023, a highly informative and engaging lecture took place at the University of Western Cape, attracting an enthusiastic audience of 30 participants, including students, staff, and lecturers. The event was graced by the esteemed Prof. Qingxiu Bu, who has an extensive and impressive background in legal infrastructures, transnational law, and global governance. His lecture explored critical topics such as China-Africa cooperation in trade and investment, the impact of China's soft power in South Africa, and the role of Africa in the Great Power competition.

(From his Biography) - Prof. Bu has an illustrious academic career, having previously been a lecturer at Cardiff Law School, Cardiff University, and the School of Law, Queen's University Belfast. He has also taught Transnational Business Law as an Adjunct Professor at the Centre of Transnational Legal Studies (CTLS), Georgetown University. In 2019, Prof. Bu was appointed Li Kashing Professor of Practice at the Faculty of Law, McGill University. His international experience spans several visiting posts at institutions such as Lund University, Sweden; University College Dublin, Ireland; Tel Aviv University, Israel; and the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law in Germany. Furthermore, he has worked as a Docent at the Institute of Global Law and Policy (IGLP) at Harvard Law School.

Throughout the years, Prof. Bu has completed four projects funded by esteemed organizations such as the British Academy, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Newton Fund, and British Council (PMI). He will be a senator at the University of Sussex until August 2022.

During the lecture, Prof. Bu shared his in-depth knowledge and research findings on the evolving relationship between China and Africa in trade and investment. He examined how this cooperation has fostered economic development and infrastructure growth in Africa while benefiting China's expanding global influence. Prof. Bu then delved into China's soft power, explicitly discussing its impact on South Africa. He analyzed how cultural, educational, and diplomatic exchanges have been shaping the perception of China in the region, which has led to a significant increase in bilateral relations.

Lastly, Prof. Bu tackled the critical topic of Africa's role in the Great Power competition. He comprehensively analyzed the continent's strategic position in the ongoing geopolitical struggle between global powers while exploring potential opportunities and challenges for Africa's future growth and stability.

The lecture concluded with a lively Q&A session and a small finger snack gathering. This informal setting allowed the participants to discuss and interact on the topics presented, deepening their understanding of the complexities of the China-Africa relationship, the role of soft power, and Africa's place in the global geopolitical landscape. Prof Bu's lecture not only enlightened the attendees but also fostered a stimulating and insightful discourse on significant global challenges facing the world today.

The lecture organisers and participants sincerely thank Prof. Qingxiu Bu for sharing his extensive knowledge and invaluable insights on crucial and timely topics. His expertise and engaging presentation style fostered a stimulating and thought-provoking environment that encouraged a rich exchange of ideas among the attendees.

We are fortunate to have had Prof. Bu as our distinguished guest for this lecture, and we eagerly look forward to having him join us again. His presence and contributions significantly enrich the academic discourse on global challenges and international relations, and we are confident that his future engagements with our community will continue to inspire thoughtful discussions and a deeper understanding of the complexities of our world.