Lingnan University successfully hosts the Chinese in Africa/Africans in China Research Network Conference and Symposium

The School of Graduate Studies and the Institute of Policy Studies at Lingnan University successfully held the Chinese in Africa/Africans in China Research Network Conference and Symposium on 15-16 May 2025. Themed “Evolving Dynamics of Africa-China Relations and Re-imagining the Future”, this two-day hybrid event took place at Lingnan@WestKowloon in collaboration with the Africa-China Research Network, the Chinese in Africa/Africans in China Research Network, the Graduate School of the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, and International Classroom for Postgraduate Research Methodology Enhancement. It brought together a diverse group of international scholars and researchers to critically examine the complex and evolving relationship between Africa and China.  

The conference featured seven concurrent sessions with over 90 abstract submissions and 57 presentations. Across the two-day event. Across the two-day event, the conference attracted more than 300 postgraduate students, researchers, and academics from 16 countries and regions, such as Mainland China, Ghana, Morocco, Sweden, the UK, and the US. Participants engaged in discussions on the shifting paradigms of Africa-China relations, focusing on their multifaceted impacts, technological advancements, geopolitical reconfigurations, and socio-cultural exchanges from historical and contemporary perspectives. 

Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research) and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, delivered the welcome remarks to commence the conference. He emphasised Lingnan University's commitment to fostering global academic dialogue and how the symposium's theme aligned with the university's strategic vision of addressing contemporary geopolitical challenges through interdisciplinary research. Prof Kwong also noted the overwhelming response to the call for papers from researchers worldwide, highlighting the importance of creating platforms for meaningful exchange that could lead to more equitable Africa-China partnerships amid rapid digital transformation. 

Prof Joshua Mok Ka-ho, Provost and Vice-President of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, offered insightful reflections on the evolution of Africa-China studies. Drawing from his extensive experience in international education, he underscored the growing importance of understanding youth migration patterns between Africa and China. He particularly highlighted how digital platforms are transforming labour mobility and creating new forms of transnational communities, encouraging early-career researchers to engage with these emerging themes that have the potential to reshape traditional understandings of Africa-China relations.

Prof Yoon Jung Park, Executive Director of the Chinese in Africa/Africans in China (CAAC) Research Network, provided a comprehensive overview of the network's development since its establishment in 2009. She reflected on the challenges of maintaining academic collaboration during the pandemic, when virtual platforms became essential for sustaining dialogue.  

Prof Padmore Adusei Amoah, Assistant Professor of the School of Graduate Studies at Lingnan University, offered a thoughtful retrospective on the symposium's growth since its inception in 2019. He highlighted how each symposium has expanded its thematic focus to address new dimensions of Africa-China relations, with the 2025 edition placing particular emphasis on digital aspects. Professor Amoah acknowledged the success in bringing together a diverse group of participants. 

The first day of the conference featured four concurrent sessions examining critical aspects of Africa-China relations. The geopolitical and regional powers analysed the evolving nature of Chinese investments in Africa, focusing on infrastructure projects and their long-term impacts. Researchers presented case studies demonstrating how different African nations have negotiated these partnerships, revealing both successes and challenges in maintaining policy sovereignty. A session on grassroots interactions explored ethnographic research on Chinese migrant communities in Africa and African students in China, highlighting patterns of cultural adaptation and exchange. Participants also discussed the implications of China's investments in Africa, the complexities of agency and dependence, and the importance of knowledge transfer in fostering mutual growth. 

Day two began with a plenary session featuring distinguished scholars. Prof Kenneth King from the University of Edinburgh presented “The Internationalisation of China’s Vocational Education and Training: Luban Workshops in Eastern Africa”. In his presentation, Prof King outlined a historically grounded analysis of educational cooperation between Africa and China, tracing the development of Luban workshops and Confucius institutes in Africa and their impacts on vocational and language skills, respectively. His presentation made a case for the research and internationalisation of Luban workshops in Africa.  

Prof Barry Sautman from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Prof Hairong Yan from the Tsinghua University jointly presented “Big Dispersal and Small Concentration: Chinese Spatial Assimilation in Lusaka, Zambia”. Their latest research on Chinese residential patterns in Lusaka offered nuanced findings about integration dynamics that challenge simplistic narratives of segregation or assimilation. Their work demonstrated the value of longitudinal, place-based research in understanding migration outcomes. Finally, Prof Park provided insights into the evolution of the CAAC Research Network, highlighting its role in promoting grassroots perspectives on China-Africa interactions. 

Sessions five to seven explored specialised themes shaping Africa-China relations, including media and narratives, which revealed how the framing of China's role in Africa varies dramatically across different media ecosystems, with implications for public perceptions and policy formation. In the infrastructure finance discussion, participants debated the sustainability of current financing models, with some researchers proposing alternative approaches that could better serve African development priorities. Other sessions produced critical exchanges on labor mobility, diplomacy, agriculture, and digital technologies. The robust participation and quality of discussions demonstrated the growing significance of this field and Lingnan University's leadership in facilitating these crucial conversations.

In their closing remarks, Prof Amoah and Prof Park reiterated their appreciation for the contributions from all participants. They acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the organising committee and the invaluable support from partner institutions. Looking ahead, they reaffirmed their commitment to hosting similarly impactful conferences in the future and warmly invited continued participation in upcoming academic events.