No. 15 | 28.05.2021
In the paddy fields of the Hubei-Gaza Friendship Farm in Gaza province, Mozambique, 17 April  2010 [Xinhua/Liu Dalong]

In the paddy fields of the Hubei-Gaza Friendship Farm in Gaza province, Mozambique, 17 April 2010 [Xinhua/Liu Dalong]


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Agriculture and Environment

Hybrid rice scientist Yuan Longping (1930-2021) remembered for contributions against global hunger, including 16 grain pilot programs in Africa

In Madagascar, seed technology and innovative methods tripled transplanting speed (to 0.3 hectares/day) and yields (to >7.5 tons/hectare) from 2006 to 2019; China trained 14,000+ technicians in 80 developing countries

Global Times, 10.12.2019

Geopolitics

African nations strengthen agency through infrastructure projects and leadership visits to China (222 trips; 2009-18)

From Zimbabwe’s parliament buildings (US $140 ­million) to African Union’s headquarters (US $200 million), African governments leverage diplomatic relations for Chinese-funded government facilities and more advantageous trade relations; China tops diplomatic visits to Africa, with 82 trips to 40 countries (2009-18)

Health

China contributes about ⅓ of the vaccine doses sent to Africa (39.7 million), where only 1% of Africans have been vaccinated

31 countries have received donations (5.85 million) or purchased (33 million) favorably-priced Chinese vaccines, but only 12.3 million have been delivered so far; WHO approval of Sinopharm set to increase supplies to Africa via COVAX

With ⅕ of the African population experiencing hunger (2019), Yuan Longping’s hybrid rice tripled yields in Madagascar over the last decade

With ⅕ of the African population experiencing hunger (2019), Yuan Longping’s hybrid rice tripled yields in Madagascar over the last decade