On January 11, 2019, a lecture with the theme of "Dance of the Lions and Dragons—China-Africa Cooperation" was held in PBC School of Finance, Tsinghua University (“PBCSF”). This was the second Africa-themed lecture held by the Finance EMBA and Executive Education Center of PBCSF following the first lecture "Invest in Africa–the Continent of Future" on December 13, 2018. Both lectures featured Professor Getachew Engida, who was the former Deputy Director-General of UNESCO and was appointed the Co-president of China-Africa Leadership Development Institute, Tsinghua University（CALDI）and the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Tsinghua University in July 2018.
Professor Engida joined UNESCO as Deputy Assistant Director-General for Administration and Comptroller in June 2004. He served as Deputy Director-General from July 2010 to July 2018. He has spent the last 20 years leading and managing international organizations, advancing the cause of poverty eradication, peace building and, sustainable development. He has extensively worked on rural and agricultural developments, water and climate challenges, education, sciences, technology and innovation, intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity, communication and information with emphasis on freedom of expression and the free flow information on and offline as well as good governance.
Africa is the second largest continent in the world with abundant natural resources and the youngest population in the world. From 2003 to 2014, China's investment in Africa increased by 50% every year. Chinese private enterprises are developing rapidly in Africa and 90% of Chinese enterprises in Africa are private. Professor Engida suggested everyone to be aware that Africa was not a country but a continent consisted of 54 countries. The economic, socio-cultural and ideological differences between different regions are enormous. However, some people are still under the impression that Africa as a whole is synonymous with poverty and backwardness. The lack of knowledge about Africa and the concerns for security have prevented some Chinese from exploring the continent.
In his previous "Invest in Africa" lecture, Professor Engida presented a panoramic picture of Africa's economic development and business opportunities with rich data and insights. In the ensuing lecture of " Dance of the Lions and Dragons—China-Africa Cooperation", he shared his view of the current status and future prospect of China-Africa cooperation with a few well-collected cases. Most of students felt that the lectures freshened their impression and understanding of Africa.
A few PBCSF Finance EMBA alumni have long engaged in doing business in Africa and contributed to the development and economic growth in the continent. Their stories have inspired and attracted many others to explore Africa. During the lectures, Mr. Kaiyu Xu, President of Wenzhou China-Africa Business Council and Chairman of Dihao group, and Mr. Yunting Wang, chairman of Yunhao Group were invited to share their experiences in Africa.
Xu suggested that entrepreneurs need to deepen their understanding of the local law and social customs of Africa instead of simply following their own impressions and habits. In order to truly know Africa, entrepreneurs need to go out of the classroom and gain experience through hands-on practice. They also need to leverage the strengths of the homeland, such as support from China-Africa business councils and from their alumni in Africa. It’s critical that the entrepreneurs take a long-term view for developing their business in Africa, which may help them have a better chance of success
Mr. Yunting Wang shared his working experience in Africa. He suggested that people should get to know the cultural characteristics and working habits of African people while constantly deepening their understanding of Africa. According to his own experience, most places in Africa are very safe, and as long as people do not venture to well-known dangerous areas they would not be at risk. However, the operational safety of their business could be an issue if the investors or managers do not know well about the local economic situation, investment environment, manufacturing dynamics and business legal systems.
In the new year of 2019, the Finance EMBA & EE Center of PBCSF is starting a new chapter. We plan to launch African programs this year, which aim to help students to bridge the geographical gap, integrate Chinese and African culture, start the immersion journey, liaise local resources and find new opportunities in Africa through in-class lectures and real experiences.
