China’s Economic Footprint in the Global South

The way China engages with countries in the Global South has evolved considerably in the past decades. The now 11-year-old Belt and Road Initiative may be the most well-known configuration, but in the past few years the Chinese leadership has also been developing and promoting initiatives that aim to present an alternative to the current international order. These include the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative. Meanwhile, be it at the bilateral level or pluri-/multilaterally, China continues to engage with Global South players. A case in point is the recent Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit of September 2024. Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to provide USD 51 billion in funding at the summit, including support for 30 infrastructure projects across Africa. China’s increasing engagement with Global South countries has a wide array of implications for these countries – be it in terms of economic development, competitiveness, security or foreign policy. It is also being closely monitored – in some instances with concern – by governments and businesses alike in the European Union, the United States, and other like-minded countries.

The EU SME Centre and the European Chamber are pleased to invite you to join our next Policy Meeting, where Mr Eric Olander, Co-Founder of the China Global South Project (CAP), and Mr Jacob Mardell, Editorial Coordinator for the “Spheres of Influence” project at n-ost, will provide an overview of China’s economic footprint in the Global South, and expected developments over the coming years. The meeting will take place online on Friday 25 October from 15:00 to 16:30 Beijing Time / 9:00 to 10:30 AM Brussels Time.

Eligibility and registration

This is a closed meeting open to consortium partners’ management and relevant stakeholders of EU SME Centre Phase IV including European embassies, consulates, EU-funded projects and secretariat/board members from European chambers or business associations only. If you meet the criteria and would like to attend, please send your information to Ms Susana Xu at susana.xu@eusmecentre.org.cn with the subject line “Policy Meeting Registration: China’s Economic Footprint in the Global South” before Thursday 24 October COB. You will receive a confirmation email.

Keynote speakers

Eric Olander

Co-Founder, China Global South Project (CAP)

Eric Olander is the co-founder of the China Global South Project (CAP), an independent, non-partisan media initiative dedicated to exploring every facet of China’s engagement in Africa. Eric is a fluent Mandarin-speaker and a longtime China-watcher with more than 25 years of journalism experience at many of the world’s leading media companies including CNN, the BBC, and FRANCE24 among others. He received his undergraduate degree in East African History from the University of California at Berkeley and holds a master’s degree in Chinese Public Affairs from the University of Hong Kong.

Jacob Mardell

Editorial Coordinator, Spheres of Influence, n-ost

Jacob Mardell is Editorial Coordinator for the “Spheres of Influence” project. Prior to n-ost Jacob worked as an analyst at the Mercator Institute of China Studies and as a freelance journalist covering China’s global footprint.