Beijing events build productive dialogue on conflict prevention

Conflict-sensitive business practices, crisis diplomacy in Sudan and South Sudan, foreign aid and development assistance in Africa, and China-UK collaboration on conflict prevention were some of the issues discussed at a series of events held by Saferworld and local partners from 11-14 November 2014 in Beijing.

A range of Chinese, African and other international former and current officials, business representatives, scholars and experts attended a series of seminars and meetings organised by Saferworld focusing on a diverse yet interrelated set of aims around dialogue and on conflict prevention. 

The events aimed to improve understanding and look at practical ways to address risk management and conflict sensitivity among Chinese commercial actors operating in South Sudan and to encourage a mutual exchange of lessons learned from Chinese and wider international engagement with Sudan and South Sudan in recent years. Delegates included eight civil society representatives from Sudan and South Sudan. The events also aimed to initiate an exchange and learning between China and traditional donors on each other’s approaches and traditions towards foreign aid and development assistance in Africa; and to analyse different forms of cooperation in crisis prevention and response between China and the UK.

More detail on each of these areas is set out below. Saferworld's China team will be producing reports and holding follow-up research trips, seminars, and workshops under each of these projects, to further build on the key areas of collaboration established during this trip.

Risk management and conflict sensitivity

With China’s growing economic engagement in conflict-affected and fragile states, it is increasingly important for Chinese companies and communities to engage in risk management and conflict-sensitive business practices. On Tuesday 11 November, Saferworld held a workshop, co-hosted with the New Century Academy on Transnational Corporations (under China’s Ministry of Commerce), for around 50 Chinese company representatives – including those with operations in South Sudan - scholars, officials and South Sudanese and international civil society experts.

The workshop addressed risk analysis frameworks for transnational investments; the risks facing external actors engaging in South Sudan; and what practical measures and countermeasures Chinese companies can adopt when responding to challenges in South Sudan. This was the third of a series of workshops that Saferworld has held in the past year, aimed at introducing practical tools that Chinese companies can use in order to adopt a conflict-sensitive approach.

"According to our analysis, a conflict sensitive approach is one of the most effective solutions for Chinese companies managing risk overseas".  - Jiang Heng, Research Associate, Ministry of Commerce, Executive Director, Beijing New-century Academy on Transnational Corporations.

Saferworld then co-hosted a seminar with the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) entitled Oil Security and China’s Engagement in South Sudan, held at the company’s Beijing headquarters. During this seminar Dr Leben Moro from the University of Juba and Mr Qian Zhen, from the  Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China presented their findings from a recent field research study, facilitated by Saferworld. The field research investigated the impacts of the outbreak of conflict on the oil sector in South Sudan and the implications for peace and conflict dynamics in the country.

Crisis diplomacy: the experience of Sudan and South Sudan

A policy seminar on ‘Crisis diplomacy: the experience of Sudan and South Sudan’ was held on Wednesday 12 November by Saferworld and the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS). The seminar addressed the current priorities, challenges and opportunities in international support for both a viable and stable Sudan and South Sudan, as well as stable and mutually benefiting relations between the Sudans. In addition to adding insights into key policy developments, the event identified practical next steps for cooperation and collaboration by the international community..

Over 80 people attended, including China’s Former Special Representative on African Affairs, the former EU Special Representative for Sudan, and Ambassadors and senior officials from the Sudanese and South Sudanese embassies in Beijing. Also attending were prominent experts from Sudanese and South Sudanese civil society, along with a range of embassy officials, Chinese government officials, international experts, as well as representatives from Chinese state-owned enterprises, think tanks, civil society organisations, policy banks and academic institutions.

"The two Sudans are very good cases for us to study crisis diplomacy. China has, and will continue to play a constructive role and work together with the international community, the government in power, and practical forces on the ground" . - Amb Liu Guijin, Former China Special Representative on African Affairs.

Foreign aid and development assistance in Africa: emerging trends and key developments

On Thursday 13 November, another seminar was held, attended by around 70 participants, addressing China’s foreign aid and development assistance in Africa. The first half of the seminar focused on China’s foreign aid policies and practices. Presentations by representatives of China’s Ministry of Commerce explored evolutions in China’s foreign aid policy and China’s 2014 White Paper on Foreign Aid, as well as recent trends and challenges in China’s aid to Africa. Scholars also addressed the role of China’s commercial sector in government-sponsored investment activities, and the arguments for and against trilateral cooperation.

The second half of the seminar examined comparative approaches to development aid and assistance in Africa, with speeches from the UK, EU and US embassy officials. The nexus between development assistance and peace in the Horn of Africa was also addressed during this session.

"China’s role in Africa needs not only to benefit and learn from experiences of others, but others need to learn from China’s experiences themselves". - Paul Murphy, Executive Director, Saferworld

The seminar concluded by summing up some of the differences and similarities in the discourses of China and Western countries in approaching development aid in Africa. Whilst various common interests were identified, divergences were also noted in the approaches, histories, cultures and traditions between China and various Western countries.

Conflict prevention in the 21st century: China and the UK

As part of Saferworld’s two-year project on ‘Conflict prevention partnership for the 21st century: China and the UK’, Saferworld facilitated the second meeting of the China-UK Conflict Prevention Working Group (CPWG), composed of three Chinese and three UK experts on conflict prevention, on Friday 14 November.

Through a series of workshops, roundtables, policy seminars and the publication and dissemination of joint briefings and policy recommendations, the project aims to promote greater levels of awareness and expertise and increase levels of dialogue on conflict prevention within the Chinese and UK policy communities. . It does not aim to advocate for one approach over another, but to facilitate understanding and explore potential areas of collaboration where China, the UK and other international actors, including those states affected by conflict might be able to cooperate together more closely in the future.

The project explores contemporary approaches to conflict prevention, with a particular emphasis on crisis diplomacy, early warning systems, and upstream conflict prevention (i.e. addressing the root drivers of fragility and conflict). Over the two years, a series of workshops conducted in London and Beijing will focus on each of these specific components. International experts, including those from conflict-affected states, will attend the workshops to provide tangible examples of how efforts at conflict prevention have played out in specific countries.

This workshop focused on crisis prevention and response. Using South Sudan as a case study, participants analysed different forms of cooperation in crisis prevention and response, with a particular emphasis on the role of the Troika (the governments of the UK, US and Norway) and with the aim to provide recommendations for successful crisis prevention and response in future. It provided an opportunity to discuss issues raised throughout the week in more depth, and in a more intimate closed-door environment.

Find out more about our work on China.
Find out more about our work on conflict sensitivity.

“China’s role in Africa needs not only to benefit and learn from experiences of others, but others need to learn from China’s experiences themselves”

Paul Murphy, Executive Director, Saferworld