China Africa Talk is a weekly podcast dedicated to bringing a better understanding of what is happening on the African continent and in China from both an African and a Chinese perspective. Be sure to pick up news, views and discussions on what’s happening between China and Africa pertaining to diplomatic, trade and economic, as well as social and cultural relations when you tune into China Africa Talk.
Rumbidzo Herbert Marembo and Shamiso Fungura, two Zimbabwean entrepreneurs based in Shanghai, are connecting China and Africa through their e-commerce platform, KOKI Delivery. By combining logistics, international shipping, and doorstep delivery, their venture links China's manufacturing power with Africa's growing market.
Hans Seesaghur, a Mauritian with deep ties to China, spent nearly 20 years experiencing Chinese New Year traditions across regions like Liaoning, Fujian, and Chengdu. Each celebration revealed unique customs, deepening his love for Chinese culture. Back in Mauritius, where Chinese New Year is a public holiday, the festive spirit extends beyond the Chinese community, uniting people in joy and celebration. For Hans, the festival symbolizes cultural connection and shared prosperity.
The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a cornerstone of Chinese culture, centered around family reunions, festive traditions, and an unparalleled travel rush. This year's celebration holds even greater significance, as it marks the first Spring Festival since UNESCO recognized the festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. The global recognition highlights the cultural richness of this ancient tradition, which has become a bridge connecting communities far beyond China's b...
Chinese private enterprises have seen remarkable growth in Africa, playing a pivotal role in shaping the continent's economic and social landscape. In this episode, we evaluate the growing presence of China's private business sector in Africa, exploring their impacts and contributions to Africa's development.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, Chad and Nigeria from January 5 to 11, continuing a 35-year tradition that the Chinese foreign minister visits Africa on the first overseas trip of the year. The visit sees the beginning of the implementation the FOCAC Beijing Action Plan 2025-2027 and reinforces China-Africa ties, now elevated to an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era. Three experts share more insights on the significance of ...
As 2025 unfolds, it marks a pivotal year for the implementing the outcomes of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. The year, China-Africa cooperation is set to reach new heights, driven by renewed momentum and shared goals. Three experts provide key insights into the future of this evolving partnership.
2024 will be remembered as a year of stability and remarkable progress in China-Africa relations, with ties between the two sides seen at its best in history. The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in Beijing made a milestone. In our annual year-in-review episode, three experts discuss key events and trends that shaped China Africa relations in 2024. They also share their personal gains and experiences owing to this growing partnership.
Agriculture is a key pillar of The Gambia's economy. However, its growth is constrained by challenges such as limited resources, low capacity, and the impacts of climate change. Lamin Fatty, Dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at the University of The Gambia, discusses the current state of the sector and explores pathways to unlocking its full potential.
From December 7 to 10, the 4th China-Africa Future Leaders' Dialogue is held in Hubei Province under the theme "Partners Working Hand in Hand for Modernization." As a key step to implement the outcomes of the 2024 FOCAC Summit, youth representatives from 14 African countries visited Yichang and Wuhan, engaging in meaningful exchanges with their Chinese counterparts on modernization. Three young African delegates share their insights and takeaways on how these experiences could contribute to the ...
China and Burundi share a strong and growing friendship, marked by booming cooperation in various sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure and energy. Burundian ambassador to China Telesphore Irambona discusses the current state and future potential of this partnership and calls for increased Chinese investment in the East African nation.
China has granted zero tariffs to Least Developed Countries with established diplomatic relations, including 33 African countries, effective from December 1, 2024. This move significantly lowers costs for African exports, boosts competitiveness, and strengthens economic ties between Africa and its largest trading partner, China. With nations like The Gambia benefiting, this policy opens new doors for trade and investment while promoting shared development. Find out more about how this game-chang...
Xavier Owona, a Cameroonian fashion designer and founder of XaferWear, has spent nine years in China building a brand that seamlessly fuses African cultural elements with modern fashion. Based in Shanghai, Owona's journey highlights how young African entrepreneurs are thriving in China while promoting cross-cultural understanding.
For over three years, China Africa Talk has been bridging African and Chinese perspectives, offering fresh insights into an evolving partnership. Across Africa, journalists are reclaiming narratives, challenging Western portrayals, and collaborating with their Chinese counterparts to tell nuanced stories. Today, three African journalists in China join us to discuss how they're shaping the narrative of this dynamic relationship.
In Kenya's Nzoia River basin, bamboo is proving to be a game-changer in flood control and ecosystem restoration. Through a China-Kenya collaboration, local communities are learning to use bamboo's deep roots to prevent soil erosion and slow floodwaters, enhancing climate resilience and food security. The transferring of crucial bamboo technology and skills is also improving local livelihoods. Two experts directly involved in the initiative walk us through this innovative project.
The upcoming G20 Leaders' Summit on November 18-19 in Rio de Janeiro promises to be a landmark event, with all 19 member countries, the African Union, and the European Union in attendance. For the first time, the African Union joins as a permanent member, marking a historic step toward amplifying Africa’s role in global governance. Ahead of the summit, we explore potential priorities for China, the significance of the AU’s inclusion, and how China and Africa might leverage the G20 platform to co...
This year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world’s first national-level expo dedicated solely to imports, is back in Shanghai from November 5-10. Burundi is participating in the country exhibition for the first time. Alfred Burimaso, First Counsellor at the Embassy of Burundi in China highlights how Burundi is seizing the moment to showcase unique products, from high-quality coffee to artisanal crafts. He discusses the impact of China’s zero-tariff policy for least-developed countri...
Which coffees have captured your taste buds so far? Maybe it's the smooth Geisha from Panama? The exotic Kopi Luwak from Indonesia or the renowned Blue Mountain Coffee from Jamaica? Let's narrow the choice a little. What about African coffees? Perhaps you are a fan of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe or Kenya AA? Andrew Gatera is a passionate advocate for the coffee from his country, Rwanda, known as the country of a thousand hills. Gatera sets his sights on expanding Rwanda coffee's reach in the Chinese m...
The phrase "all-weather friend," first coined by Zambia's founding father Kenneth Kaunda to describe China, has become a defining term for the solid friendship between China and Zambia, and more broadly, between China and Africa. This year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Zambia. As both nations move forward, the revitalization of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway is set to deepen their bond.
South Africa's choral music resonates at China's 600-year-old Temple of Heaven. Making its debut at the 2024 Beijing Music Festival, Cape Town Opera captivated Chinese audiences with rich harmonies and vibrant expressions of South African music and culture.
The 16th BRICS Summit, taking place under Russia’s chairmanship in Kazan from October 22–24, marks a historic moment with the inclusion of five new members: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Ethiopia. Notably, African countries now represent one-third of the bloc's membership, strengthening the platform for Africa's voices on the global stage. As Egypt and Ethiopia join South Africa in the BRICS, the summit offers an important opportunity for the continent to advocate for ...
"Small and Beautiful" projects emerge as a vital component of China-Africa cooperation. These initiatives focus on providing localized, targeted solutions to Africa's unique social and economic challenge. As they continue to gain momentum, they demonstrate the potential for China's engagement in Africa to address not only top-down, macro-level growth but also everyday needs of Africans.
China-Africa cooperation spans from monumental infrastructural projects like Nigeria's Lekki DeepSea Port and the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway to grassroots initiatives such as the promotion of Juncao technology program and the Luban Workshop. Over the next three years, 1000 additional"Small and Beautiful" projects will take root across the African continent. We speak with Liu Zhiqin and Charles Onunaiju to explore how these "Small and Beautiful" projects are positively impacting local...
October 1st marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The 75 years has witnessed the strengthening of relations between China and Africa. China played a crucial role in Africa's liberation movements and has been a key contributor to the continent's modernization efforts. Africa was instrumental in facilitating China's resumption of UN membership, standing with China on various international platforms. David Monyae and Liu Baocheng walk us through the political...
The growing cooperation between China and Africa extends beyond trade and investment, reaching into the realm of culture, including cuisines. In this episode, we meet two young men from Ghana, who are adding flavors of West Africa to Beijing's diverse culinary scene.
The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) marks a pivotal moment in China-Africa relations, with the relationship now viewed as the strongest in history. But why is this the case? In this episode, we’ll break down the key takeaways from the summit and explore how this deepened partnership is shaping the future of China-Africa cooperation.
China and South Africa have elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership for the new era, marking a significant milestone in their deepening ties and paving the way for new avenues of cooperation. In an exclusive address, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasizes the mutual trust and collaboration that form the cornerstone of their relationship, driving robust bilateral trade and investment and strengthening their partnership on the global stage....
At the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation, China and Botswana announced the establishment of a strategic partnership. This milestone comes as the two nations will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year. In an exclusive interview with China Africa Talk, Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi reflects on the evolution of the Botswana-China relationship, describing the past five decades as a period of strong and impactful friendship.
The Science and Technology Backyard is an education program where African students learn from China’s agricultural practices to enhance farming in Africa. We recently visited a farm in northern China, where Ibrahim Naziru from Nigeria, is working. As he prepares to enter his second year with the program,Ibrahim will begin applying these Chinese farming techniques on his home land and assess their effectiveness on African soil.
In an exclusive interview with China Africa Talk on the sidelines of the FOCAC Summit in Beijing, SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi called China “a true partner” that delivers quality projects instead of just talking. As China and the Southern Africa region both uphold inclusivity and common development, Magosi believes the two sides have large room for cooperation in the future.
During an exclusive interview with China Africa Talk, Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said that the West African community treasures China’s support, and is committed to strengthening South-South cooperation with China to address global challenges.
