The launch of the three books was attended by renowned names in Chinese diplomacy, research and academia. Photo by Kimeng Hilton

The high level of China-Africa cooperation is not only evident today in the economic and political spheres, but also in field research. Over the years, an increasing number of Chinese universities and other higher institutes have set up African Studies departments. The result has been abundant research carried out and many books published on Africa by Chinese scholars.

September 12 in the Chinese capital, Beijing, saw the launch of three new books on Africa - all in Chinese for now. Hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, CPAFFC, the event was attended by the Chinese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Zhang Ming, researchers, dons, think tank members and senior diplomats. The book launch was later followed by a seminar on “The Development Strategy for the Originality of African Studies in China,” still organized by CPAFFC.

Carrying out proper research on Africa requires living there, not depending on Hollywood and Western media narratives. Photo by Kimeng Hilton

The first of the books, From China’s Southwest Borderland to African Continent: A Practice and Thinking on the Cross-cultural and Regional Studies, is written by Prof. Liu Hongwu, President of the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University (IASZNU), China. The other, Study in Africa: Documenting 10 Years of Travel in Africa by Teachers and Students from IASZNU, is edited by Prof. Chen Mingkun, IASZNU Deputy Director. The last book, Theoretical Paradigm and Innovative Practice of Colleges in Constructing Think Tanks, is written by Prof. Wang Heng, the Communist Party of China Secretary at IASZNU.

In his speech, Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming, a former Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, said the three works were an excellent combination of theoretical and experienced practice. He described the role of think tanks and academic exchange as one of the pillars of China-Africa cooperation. Zhang Ming noted that each year, the number of African leaders who visit China is by far more than those from any other continent or region of the world - a great testimony to the excellent relations between the two sides. He cautioned against “office thinking,” saying the only way to properly carry out research on Africa and to better understand the continent is to live there.

“We need to have an African vision based on our true findings, not Western, Hollywood or the so-called “desperate continent” as portrayed by some media,” Zhang Ming warned. He encouraged Chinese scholars to be modest, willing and ready to learn from Africa by widening the scope of their research. “You can leave Africa, but Africa will never leave you,” another official commented at the book launch.

Zhang Ming, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister who was Ambassador to Kenya, offered counsel on carrying research on Africa. Photo by Kimeng Hilton

Published by World Affairs Press, From China’s Southwest Borderland to African Continent: A Practice and Thinking on the Cross-cultural and Regional Studies revisits the nearly 30 years Prof. Liu Hongwu has spent travelling between China and Africa; and when he studied in Nigeria in the 1990s. “Study in Africa: Documenting 10 Years of Travel in Africa by Teachers and Students from IASZNU” illustrates the activities of Chinese teachers and students in Africa in the last decade during tours, field work, official visits, foreign aid programmes, exchanges, etc.

Theoretical Paradigm and Innovative Practice of Colleges in Constructing Think Tanks introduces the systematic development of IASZNU in discipline construction, academic research, team construction, talent cultivation, international exchange, social service policy advisory, etc.

Thus, the three new books published by officials of the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University portray the school’s evolution in the past 10 years, combining learning with practice, think tank construction and other areas. According to the 2016 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report released in January 2017 by the University of Pennsylvania in the US, IASZNU was selected as the Best University-affiliated Regional Studies Centre.

*Kimeng Hilton Ndukong, a contributor to People’s Daily Online, is Sub-Editor for World News with Cameroon Tribune bilingual daily newspaper in Cameroon. He is currently a 2017 China-Africa Press Centre, CAPC fellow.