2019年CRI Scholars call on Africa to grasp opportunities provided by BRI

 

Scholars from Africa and China are calling on African countries to capitalize on the opportunities being offered by the Belt and Road Initiative.

They've made the appeal at a forum¹ among Chinese and African think tanks in Zambia's capital, Lusaka.

Scholars, entrepreneurs and officials from 17 African countries, the African Union, as well as China, have gathered in Lusaka for a two-day forum, discussing the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on Africa's development agenda.

Pamela Kabaso, Executive Director of the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research, notes Africa is faced with a number of challenges in its development, such as poor infrastructure², weak production capacity and limited access to financial resources.

Kabaso says the BRI offers solutions to those problems.

"BRI provides one of the alternative options for access to finance for Africa. And the solutions from the BRI regarding the challenge of infrastructure development is evident. As we know the BRI aims to improve global connectivity by establishing and facilitating trade corridors. Africa can leverage³ the BRI for its FDI and investment in research and development. And the people to people exchange under BRI provides an avenue for building human capital."

Pamela Kabaso says she believes the Belt and Road Initiative can create synergies with the African Continental⁴ Free Trade Area, the flagship program being promoted by African Union to spur Africa's development.

Professor Liu Haifang with Peking University argues the Belt and Road Initiative creates huge opportunities for Africa's development.

She says African countries need to take the initiative to tap into the potential of the BRI.

"China's comparative advantages is infrastructure building with manufacturing capacity. And this can be easily offshored to African continent. China's offshoring capacity provides potentially 70 million job opportunities. But the opportunities come in just a short period time, maybe five years or ten years. Which means if the African human capital doesn't support this kind of opportunity, then you'll miss it. So what happens to the continent with BRI? It's a question mark. It's up to the African side to decide how to use it."

Scholars at the event have also weighed in on the ongoing⁵ trade war between China and the United States, suggesting the frictionis creating negative impacts on global development, including African countries.

As China is the largest trading partner of Africa, researchers note there could be a knock-on effect to Africa when Chinese products are hit with US tariffs⁶.

1 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

2 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

3 leverage   

n.力量，影响；杠杆作用，杠杆的力量

参考例句：

• We'll have to use leverage to move this huge rock.我们不得不借助杠杆之力来移动这块巨石。
• He failed in the project because he could gain no leverage. 因为他没有影响力，他的计划失败了。

4 continental   

adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的

参考例句：

• A continental climate is different from an insular one.大陆性气候不同于岛屿气候。
• The most ancient parts of the continental crust are 4000 million years old.大陆地壳最古老的部分有40亿年历史。

5 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

6 tariffs   

关税制度； 关税( tariff的名词复数 )； 关税表； （旅馆或饭店等的）收费表； 量刑标准

参考例句：

• British industry was sheltered from foreign competition by protective tariffs. 保护性关税使英国工业免受国际竞争影响。
• The new tariffs have put a stranglehold on trade. 新的关税制对开展贸易极为不利。