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Home 禄 Opinion 禄 Foreign Views

African student realizes Chinese dream

By Cyprian Nugah Doh | August 5, 2014, Tuesday | Print Edition

IN recent years, China has been playing more of a leading role on the global stage and no phrase in recent Chinese history has captured the imagination so quickly and completely as the Chinese dream.

Some people see it as a need for more economic prosperity while others see it as a pursuit of individual dreams.

But to an African, what is my Chinese dream? Can I dare dream?

China contributes to Africa’s development. It’s a win-win result where China benefits from trading with Africa while boosting the African economy.

China has convinced Africa that the Chinese dream is not only related to China’s environment but that it will add to peace and prosperity of the the world. The Chinese dream is also part of the dream of many in the developing world, who now have a great opportunity to grow their economy with assistance from China.

Africa, in adopting its “looking east” policy, recognizes the importance of China. Many Africans are proudly seeking this dream.

President Xi Jinping underscored China’s friendship with Africa in Tanzania on March 25, 2013, emphasizing that “a friend in need is a friend indeed” and “this will not change at all because of China’s own growth and rising international status.”

China had been able to give opportunity to everybody who seeks it. I have been among the lucky lot. But what has China given me, and what is the path forward to realize my Chinese dream?

My honeymoon with Shenzhen began in 2011; that year Shenzhen hosted the 26th World Universiade. I was honored to volunteer for the games not only for U-Station support but also to give a presentation to more than 200 volunteers to prepare them to better appreciate the culture of the athletes coming for the games, especially those from Africa.

My presentation was on sports culture in Africa. This was my first initiative to bring Africa a step closer to China.

I was on the podium once again to take part in the Universiade torch relay at the Shenzhen University Campus. The 2011 Universiade came and brought with it the Shenzhen Universiade Scholarship fund. This is an annual scholarship fund to both assist foreign students in China and Chinese students going to study or research abroad. I was among the five foreign students to benefit of the fund.

My own dream

From a teacher back home in Africa, I’m currently a Master’s student in International Law at the Shenzhen University Law School. My research interest is China-Africa relations. The Chinese dream and the African dream are tied to my own dream.

The culture and legal environment in Africa is one of the most diverse in the world and it’s only by understanding this diversity that both China and Africa can fully benefit from this relationship.

A noticeable increase in Chinese investment in Africa is giving the continent the much-needed lifeline, while conflict areas have also been on the rise. In order to realize this dream, I have been undertaking research on land and labor  issues in Africa, especially those that involve Chinese investment.

The book “Southern Africa International Classic Cases Study: An analysis of economic cooperation between China and Southern Africa in  trade, investment and labor rights protection,”  is one of the few publications using case studies as the basis for analyzing Chinese investment, trade and labor issues in Africa.

One case is “The International Trade Administration Commission v SA Tyre Manufacturers Conference case” in the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa, decided on September 23, 2011. China is considered by the WTO a “non-market economy,” giving rise to an increasing number of trade disputes and labor issues and posing a challenge to Chinese investors and to China seeking better comprehension from trade partners.

Another case is “The Roosevelt Kgosi (Applicant) v China Civil Engineering (Respondent)” in the Industrial Court Of (Gaborone) Botswana underscores such a need by highlighting the legal cultural gap in labor law when it comes to probation and termination of employment in Botswana and China.

It shows how understanding these differences can be helpful in ensuring that Chinese investment in Africa generally and Botswana in particular is fostered in an environment of peace, security and social justice.

The significance of this book is twofold. One is that it’s being published ahead of the Sixth Ministerial Conference of 2015 in South Africa. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is a platform established by China and African countries for collective consultation, dialogue and cooperation. There have been five FOCAC ministerial conferences, one every three years, alternating between China and an African country.

The second involves cooperation. Like FOCAC bringing African and Chinese leaders together, so too has Shenzhen University brought Chinese and African students together.

Seeking cooperation

Research in China-African engagement has been very critical of China’s activities in Africa, but few people are advocating ways of cooperation and problem-solving. In line with FOCAC, we are trying to understand the fundamental problems in a bid to seek viable solutions. With such cooperation, we have been able to come out with a book.  Zhou Jinbo, one of the co-authors with my help and guidance, will be going to South Africa to pursue his Doctorate studies.

Collaboration between students and teachers and among students is at its highest level. This is an answer to President Xi’s call on young people to dare to dream, work hard, and work assiduously to fulfill the dream and contribute to the revitalization of a great nation.

We believe that as university students unite and work hard, like what we do in Shenzhen University, we will be able to achieve our great dream while enriching ourselves unwittingly.

Let us unite together to realize the China-Africa great rejuvenation.

The author is a student at Shenzhen University, from Cameroon. Shanghai Daily condensed the article.

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