Macau Workshop on the Triangulation of China-EU-Africa

On July 10, 2010, a workshop on the triangulation of China-EU-Africa was held in the University of Macau.  The meeting was organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of the university and the Institute of European Studies in Macau. Participants came from China, Europe and Africa. Prof. Jiang Shixue, Deputy Director of the IES attended the workshop.

The workshop discussed two major issues, i.e., implication of the China-EU relations on Africa, and common challenges faced by the three sides.

Participants seemed to disagree on their understanding of the meaning of the topic of the workshop. While some emphasize the implication of the China-EU relations on Africa, other argued that Africa should not be given an inferior position in this triangulation.

The framework of the workshop was quite unique. Participants were divided into three groups, and each participant was asked to raise five major issues regarding the theme of the workshop.

Jiang Shixue put forward the following five issues: 1) Europe feels that its presence in Africa is threatened by the Chinese relations with the continent.  Is this fear justified? 2）More and more people in Europe have recognized that China and Europe need to join hands in developing their relations with the continent.  How can this cooperation be carried out? 3）Can Europe help China to dispel "China threat" inside and outside of Africa? 4) In what way will the bilateral relations between China and Europe affect Africa? Will Africa enjoy a better bargaining position between the Chinese and European efforts to move closer to Africa? 5) How should we understand the triangulation of China-EU-Africa in a real sense?

Each group then summarized 5 issues of the dozens of issues pooled together within the group. Finally, after discussion, the following five issues are recognized as the conclusions of the workshop: 1) What is the effect of African economic development on EU-China relations? 2) How to set up Euro-Sino-African common strategy for sustainable development? 3) How to build up common platform for political trust and cooperation？4) How to enhance the involvement from societies in China, EU and Africa? 5) How to promote mutual understanding and cooperation across cultural and value difference?