The overseas Chinese in Africa play an important part in the cultural exchanges between China and Africa This report includes seven chapters. Chapter One sums up the findings about the first group of Chinese in Africa based on the history of Chinese immigrants in Africa Chapter Two analyzes the number and category of the overseas Chinese in Africa and predicts the change in the number of this group. Chapter Three and Chapter Four explain the evolution of the image of the overseas Chinese. These chapters analyze the underlying causes for the evolving multi-faceted image of the local Chinese. Chapter Five and Chapter Six analyze the situation of the overseas Chinese in South Africa and Zimbabwe respectively, depicting the life of both local Chinese individuals and groups. Chapter Seven puts forward suggestions on promoting the image of the overseas Chinese in Africa
According to this report, the overseas Chinese in Africa have long been serving as an important bridge for China-Africa communication. They have tried hard to integrate into the African society, and have made significant contributions to the development of Africa However, they are also facing difficulties and challenges. In the new era of China-Africa cooperation, all parties, including the Chinese government, media, think tanks, academic institutions, overseas Chinese associations and Chinese individuals in Africa, should take measures to change the stereotypes about the Chinese in Africa They need to better convey China's national image and culture, to further enhance China's soft power and influence in Africa, and to make greater contributions to increasing the people-to-people exchange between China and Africa
We are witnessing major changes unfolding in the world, changes unprecedented in a century. With the in-depth development of world multipolarization, economic globalization, social informatization and cultural diversity, peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit have become the common aspirations of human society; and it is the common wish of people from all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind. At the same time, humankind is faced with many common challenges, typified by fierce power politics among major countries, continuous regional conflicts, terrorism, development imbalance, climate change, rising unilateralism and protectionism. China, as the largest developing country in the world, is a builder, contributor and upholder of the cause of peace and development of mankind. The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China held in October 2017 has led China to a new great journey of development. Guided by Chinese President Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Chinese people are making continued efforts to achieve the Two Centenary Goals of China and the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and to make new and greater contributions to mankind. Africa, he continent with the largest number of developing countries, is one of the important forces in safeguarding world peace and promoting global development In recent years, Africa has made the admirable advances on the road of pursuing sustainable self-development and strength through unity, changing from a \"hopeless continent\" for the West to a \"continent with a future full of hope\", and a \"running lion\". African countries are actively exploring development paths that suit their own national conditions, and the African people are forging ahead to realize The Agenda 2063 and the African dream of peace and prosperity.
China and Africa boast a deep-running friendship and have long formed a community with a shared future. China attaches great importance to the development of China-Africa relations. In March 2013, Xi Jinping visited Africa, also his first trip abroad as national leader. He also chose Africa for his first overseas visit in July 2018 after he was elected to a second term. Over the past six years, Xi has visited the African continent four times and arrived in eight African countries, including Tanzania, South Africa and Senegal, showing the world that China cherishes the traditional friendship with Africa and values highly the continent and China-Africa relations. In 2018, the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was successfully held. At this summit, Xi revealed the essential characteristics of China-Africa unity and cooperation, pointed out the direction of bilateral ties, and outlined the specific paths for the common development of China and Africa He has greatly improved and innovated the theoretical framework and ideological system of China's policy toward Africa, which has then become an important theoretical innovation of Xi Jinping thought on diplomacy of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era and provided a strong political principle and guide for the development of China-Africa relations in the future. This summit marks another milestone in the history of China-Africa relations.
Xiaolei Shen,Assistant research fellow and deputy director of Division of political studies of the China-Africa Institute (Institute of West-Asian and African Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences).His major research areas include African politics, African ethnic groups, and South Africa and Zimbabwe country studies. He has articles published in core journals such as West Asia and Africa, The Journal of International Studies, Journal of World peoples studies, and Quarterly Journal of International Politics. His translation works include The Dragon's Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa.
Wengang Li,Associate Research Fellow and Director of Division of Ethnic and Religious Studies of China-Africa Institute (Institute of West Asian and African Studies) of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). He got his PhD from School of International Relations of Peking University in 2007. His main research interests include Nigerian ethnic/religious issues, social and economic developments, African Islam, and China-Nigeria bilateral relations. He has published several articles on Nigeria in China's leading academic Journals and edited a book titled Liberia (2006).
Xiaolei Shen,Assistant Research Fellow and Deputy-Director of Division of Political Studies in the China-Africa Institute (Institute of West-Asian and African Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences). His Major Research areas include African politics, African ethnic groups, and South Africa and Zimbabwe country studies. He has published several articles in core journals such as West Asia and Africa, The Journal of International Studies, Journal of World Peoples Studies, and Quarterly Journal of International Politics. His translation works include The Dragon's Gift: The real Story of China in Africa.
Mengying Zhang,a PhD candidate of the Department of West Asian and African Studies at the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). She holds a BA in Economics with Honors at the University of Alberta and an MA in Economics at the University of British Columbia. She previously worked as an academic editor at the Social Sciences in China Press of CASS. Her recent publications include journal and periodical papers, i.e. \"Middle Eastern Countries' Involvement in the Horn of Africa\"\"Russia Returns to Africa in Big Strides\"\"Media's Role in the China-African Relations\" and the translations of a report China-Africa People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges and Cooperation (English version)(2018). She also coauthored two think tank reports Friendly Cooperation between China and Kenya (2018), and China-Africa Cooperation in the Peace and Security Issue (2018).
Xinfeng Li,the Executive President of the China-Africa Institute and the Director-General of the Institute of West Asian and African Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. During his tenure, he has also served as the Senior Research Fellow, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor and Dean of the West Asian and African Department of the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Chief Editor of the West Asia and Africa Journal and Journal of China-Africa Studies. He won the distinguished national Award and the Distinguished Research Award by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China several times. Before joining in the academic life, he was a senior journalist of People's Daily who left his foot prints across the African continent and won two Distinguished National News Report Awards of China He has published over 30 academic journals and scholarly papers and released two books, Following Zheng He's Footprints in Africa (English and Chinese)and Zheng He in Africa.
Chapter 1 History of the Overseas Chinese Immigration to Africa
1.1 Two Categories of the Earliest Overseas Chinese in Africa
1.2 The First Chinese Immigrants to Africa
Chapter 2 Number and Classification of the Overseas Chinese in Africa
2.1 Classification of the Overseas Chinese in Africa
2.2 Difficulties in Sourcing Accurate Data
2.3 Population of the Overseas Chinese in Africa in 2019
2.4 Changing Trends of the Overseas Chinese in Africa
Chapter 3 The Overseas Chinese Image and Its Evolution in Africa
3.1 Historical Evolution of the Overseas Chinese Image in Africa
3.2 Different Views Towards the Overseas Chinese Image in Africa
3.3 Positive Images of the Overseas Chinese in Africa
3.4 Negative Images of the Overseas Chinese in Africa
Chapter 4 Formation of the Overseas Chinese Image in Africa
4.1 Formation of the Positive Overseas Chinese Image in Africa
4.2 Formation of the Negative Overseas Chinese Image in Africa
Chapter 5 Case Study of Chinese Living in South Africa
5.1 Three Chinese Communities in South Africa
5.2 Chinese Associations in South Africa
5.3 Roles of Associations for Individual Chinese Immigrants
5.4 Conclusions
Chapter 6 Case Study of Chinese Living in Zimbabwe
6.1 Overview of the Overseas Chinese in Zimbabwe
6.2 The Overseas Chinese Image in Zimbabwe
6.3 Reasons for Negative Views of the Overseas Chinese in Zimbabwe
6.4 Measures to Improve the Overseas Chinese Image in Zimbabwe
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Chapter 7 Suggestions for Improving the Overseas Chinese Image in Africa
Bibliography