Africa & China, China & Africa

One of the issues we try to address here at dcat is African linkages with the rest of the world. There is a new Yahoo group, "FeiZhou-AsSiin - Africa & China, China & Africa," that is dedicated to examining more closely a significant global trend on which I have been focusing more closely since my trip to China last summer. In the word's of the group's founder(s):

This group is created to facilitate consideration of connections and interactions between China and Africa, and Africans and Chinese - historic, present, and future. It draws its name from the Chinese (Mandarin, Puthonghua) for Africa, "Fei Zhou," and the name in Arabic for China, "Al Siin" (pronounced as-siin). Arabic ws chosen since it is one of many maternal languages in Africa, and one that has influenced a number of other languages on the continent (notably in the Sahel and east Africa). The main language of this list is English. Postings in other languages such as Chinese, African languages, and French are welcome but please accompany them with an English summary to assure a wider understanding.

China is increasingly going to play a role in the rest of the world with Africa as a particular focus. It is in all of our interest to watch as this geopolitical relationship develops.