Underskog

(Sakset fra sidene til Fellesrådet for Afrika):

Velkommen til rapportlansering og debatt onsdag 23. januar om Kinas utlånspraksis i Afrika. Sammen med SLUG vil Fellesrådet publisere rapporten «China in Africa – lending, policy space and governance» som fokuserer spesielt på Kinas tilstedeværelse i Zambia

Welcome by Guro Almås, executive director, Norwegian Council for Africa.

Part 1 (13-14): Launch of the report “China in Africa – lending, policy space and governance" published by the Norwegian Campaign for Debt Cancellation (SLUG) and the Norwegian Council for Africa (Fellesrådet for Afrika). The report will be presented by the authors Stephen Muyakwa and Martine Dahle Huse

Part 2 (14-16): Debate

China’s lending to African countries has increased dramatically over the past few years. China has provided African governments with an alternative to traditional donors and made available capital for much needed investments in infrastructure and other development initiatives. But while the economic policy space may have increased for the borrowers, critical questions of governance arise due to lack of transparency in lending practices and China’s policy of non-interference in other countries’ domestic affairs. China has been criticized for neglecting human and labour rights, violating codes of conduct with respect to good governance and transparency and for potentially contributing to a new debt crisis by not paying attention to debt sustainability

• How does Chinese lending influence governance and democratic processes in African countries?
• Is China’s lending practices worse than other creditors’?
• How can we prevent new cases of illegitimate debt?

Speakers

• Helge Rønning, professor University of Oslo
• Stephen Muyakwa, co-author of report
• Jostein Hole Kobbeltvedt, advisor global economy, Norwegian Church Aid
  Chair: Ane Schjolden, The Norwegian Forum for Environment and Development

Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2007
Time : kl 13.00 – 16.00
Venue: Norwegian Church Aid (Kirkens Nødhjelp), Abikaliki Conference room
Bernhard Getz gate 3, Oslo

Lunch will be served.