Don’t assess China on Western information, African scholars told

African scholars have been told to have objective and independent perception of China void of “Western propaganda or mis- information”. Acting Director of Research and Studies, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Dr Efem Ubi, claimed that for a long time, the West had been spreading speculative or non-factual information against China, which led to various countries being cautious in its relations with the latter.

This was at the first Nigeria Africa-China Research Group (NiACReG) 2024 Conference, themed ‘Knowledge Reproduction and the Academe in Africa-China Research Space’, organised in partnership with Chinese in Africa and Africans in China (CA/AC) Research Network and Lagos State University (LASU), yesterday, in Lagos.

He said emerging powers were a force for world peace, with China leading the pack, adding that the rising and declining of powers is a part of international relations, which the West must accept. 

According to Ubi, there is a lack of funding and support for research on Africa-China relations, which is worse within individual African governments because such researches are not encouraged, adding that the need to invest in Africa-China data and its storage has become a significant challenge in most African countries.

“All funding for research in this area comes from the West and China; hence, the control. With our level of development our research should be policy-oriented,” he said.

Proffering solutions, he opined that research, especially from the African side should de-emphasise China and focus more on the African side of the relationship.

He also called for objectivity in analysis and generalisation, the need to erase biases, while urging Chinese and African governments to make information available.

Consul General, People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Ms Yan Yuqing, said China had found a way of development that would suit its conditions and has created a globally recognised economic success based on four main lessons.

Explaining the lessons, she said: “China takes long-term social stability as the precondition, reform and opening-up policy as the fundamental driving force, institutional innovation as the key, and the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) as the core.”

Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Olufemi Lawal, said Africa needed a viable alternative to relying on the West to diversify the continent’s outcome and determine which is more beneficial. 

He described China as a force in contemporary world order, visible in its economy, population and military strength, adding that Nigeria could learn from their results.