Sustainable Belt and Road Initiative
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A China-Myanmar Dialogue Forum was held to help Chinese companies and local NGOs understand each other. The forum invited scholars in China-Myanmar study, representatives of Myanmar’s most influential Chinese companies, and the founder of the Myanmar Center for Responsible Business, one of Myanmar’s most influential NGOs.
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Under the COVID-19 pandemic, China House collaborated with various organizations to organize a series of “Chinese and Foreign NGO Conferences on Prevention and Control of the Pandemic.” The conference series invited nearly 500 representatives from more than 100 government departments, enterprises, NGOs, and international organizations from Korea, South Africa, Kenya, and Peru. Among the participants were the Chairman of the Peruvian Congress Health Commission, Mr. Merino; representatives from the Chinese Embassy in South Africa; and UNICEF China Representative Office. The series was covered by People’s Daily, China Daily, Guangming Daily, Xinhua Silk Road, and other media.
1: Research Project on Chinese Impact on Global Sustainable Development
Time: 2014 - present
Location: Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, etc.
Partner: Open Development Cambodia, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
Intro: What impact has Chinese companies’ activities brought to Belt and Road regions? Chinese companies in Africa are accused of being “neo-colonialism” who “plunder natural resources” and “destroy the environment,” and we want to understand the situation in depth. China House has conducted many studies to truthfully and objectively document the multifaceted impact that Chinese overseas companies have on the sustainable development of Belt and Road regions.
Impact:
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China House completed a research report on Chinese companies’ impact on Cambodian sustainable development for Open Development Cambodia, a Cambodian NGO, promoting their communication with Chinese companies.
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China House collaborated with IIED to complete a study on the impact of Chinese mining, agriculture, and forestry industries on African sustainable development.
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China House researched Myanmar NGOs on their views on China’s energy development in Myanmar and presented the report to a Fortune 500 company to show the impact of Chinese companies.
2: Research Project on China Global Perception
Time: 2014 - present
Location: Africa, Southeast Asia, etc.
Partner: Open Development Cambodia, etc.
Intro: What is the image of the Chinese in the world? What is the global perception of China? China House has conducted many surveys around the world, interviewing local NGOs, communities, scholars, government officials, entrepreneurs, etc. We want to understand their views on China and overseas Chinese companies and learn from their experiences on how the Belt and Road Initiative can be more sustainable.
Impact: The China House research team spent three months and published the Report on China’s image in African Countries along the “Belt and Road” during COVID-19. The reportstudied Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Zambia as target countries. The study summarized China’s main positive and negative images in the six countries during COVID-19 and proposed corresponding countermeasures. The report was showcased at an international forum themed the Belt and Road.
3: Voice of Chinese Overseas (VOCO)
Time: 2014 - present
Location: Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, etc.
Partner: Johns Hopkins University, WWF, TRAFFIC, etc.
Intro:
With the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese people have gone all over the world - to Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, etc.
How are these Chinese people living in other countries? What kind of jobs do they do? Can they fit into the local community? For a long time, there have been many debates about Chinese overseas.
Since its founded, China House has researched on the overseas Chinese communities and initiated a Voice of Chinese Overseas program (VOCO). Researchers have delved into the lives and work of overseas Chinese to understand different aspects of theirsituation. Through writing articles and filming videos, we have documented and disseminated the real living situation of Chinese overseas to help the world better understand them.
Impact:
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China House and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) jointly published a report on responsible Chinese mining, elaborating the status of Chinese mining companies in Africa.
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In collaboration with Johns Hopkins University, China House researched on labor problems in Chinese companies in Kenya.
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In collaboration with TRAFFIC, an international wildlife trade monitoring network, China House completed a study about Chinese communities and wildlife trade in Uganda, examining the linkages between Chinese and wildlife conservation in Africa.
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After researching the CSR issues of Chinese companies and the status of Chinese communities in Ethiopia, China House published several articles to enhance the communication between overseas Chinese and the world.
4: African Tech Challenge and Chinese Company CSR Project
Time: 2014 - 2015
Location: Kenya
Partner: AVIC International
Intro: In Africa, Chinese companies often struggle to find qualified workers. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate remains high among local youths. In response to this situation, China House helped a Chinese company, AVIC International, design and implement a CSR program, Africa Tech Challenge. This program provided training for African youth to learn engineering skills, helping them become qualified and skilled workers and get employed.
Impact:
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After being initiated by China House, the program matured and is now hosted directly by AVIC. The program continues to
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It is one of a few CSR projects in Africa held by a Chinese state-owned enterprise that meet the international standard.
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The event was featured on CCTV, CGTN, andothermedia.
