China-Africa joint research and exchange programme : Forum on China Africa Co-operation (FOCAC)
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2014-10
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Abstract
The paper identifies and analyses the main vectors of China’s accelerated development including economic, governmental, cultural, educational, infrastructural, technological, and agricultural reforms, examining how these serve as models of poverty eradication, the work draws ideas for the acceleration of development in Africa. It presents a holistic overview from which applicable lessons can be drawn. The paper acknowledges the fact that China is a unitary state with more than 1.3 billion people, whilst on the other hand, Africa, despite a general consensus to reduce poverty, is a continent with now over one billion people spanning 55 fragmented economies. What lessons can be drawn from the development experience in China to accelerate the African integration agenda? The paper argues that China’s success today is largely due to the nurturing of a visionary and dedicated leadership system based on an orderly succession system; capable and competent bureaucracy; effective policy planning and co-ordination; and policy discipline. In recommendation, the paper suggest that Africa strengthens and broadens regional policy planning and co-ordination mechanisms taking into consideration the global political economy context and the continent’s psycho-social structure. This research was undertaken for Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC), www.sardc.net, Knowledge for Development Institute for China Africa Studies in Southern Africa (ICASSA).
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Research -- International cooperation, Community development -- China, International economic relations, Economic development -- International cooperation, Forum on China Africa Co-operation (FOCAC)