Abstract
China has shifted its strategy towards engaging with Europe in Africa from passive engagement to active encouragement. As China has been promoting third-party market cooperation as a new model of cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, Europe is considered a major partner, especially in African markets. This article examines how Chinese policy thinkers and businesses perceive third-party market cooperation with Europe in Africa. Through firsthand interviews, the authors find a high consensus on the Chinese side regarding the necessity of third-party market cooperation with Europe in Africa. This model is also considered a “Europe-friendly” approach to invite European governments’ participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, and an attractive proposal to European firms looking for access to more financing. Though Chinese companies see working with European companies in the African market as a normal business practice, most have been passive collaborators rather than active engagers. Drawing from secondary resources, we also briefly compare European and African views.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
Some of these firms have businesses in multiple industries in Africa, but we include them in the industry where the person from the company we come to interview comes from. For instance, Jiangxi Coal, a subsidiary of China Coal, has business in both energy and infrastructure, but the person we interviewed is responsible for infrastructure projects in Africa, therefore we categorize Jiangxi Coal as a construction company.
One of the earliest well-known projects that Chinese and European companies worked on is the Bui Dam Hydroelectricity project in Ghana which started in 2007, built by Sinohydro with Alstom Hydro supplied turbines. And one of the earliest documents on third-party market cooperation between the Chinese government and a foreign government to 2008, during a visit by then President Hu Jintao to Japan. The China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) and the Japan Council for the Promotion of International Trade (JCPPI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to encourage enterprises from both countries to jointly develop third-party markets.
Huang Zhihu, MOFCOM official formerly worked in Zambia, interviewed in September 2020.
Ke Yinbin, senior researcher at Charhar Institute, interviewed in September 2020.
Ibid.
Fu Jing, former secretary general of CCCEU, interviewed in September 2020.
Ke Yinbin, interviewed in September 2020.
There is also a belief that European companies in Africa are more likely to win “high end” projects financed by European Development Bank and other European institutions. Therefore, working with European companies will also give Chinese companies better access to these projects.
Liang Qingshan, vice general manager of CCCC overseas business department, interviewed in September 2020.
Hu Ji, business manager of Hunan Road&Bridge in Benin, interviewed in October 2020.
Wang Haibin, senior economist at SinoChem, interviewed in October 2020.
Liang Qingshan, interviewed in September 2020.
Ibid.
Xiong Jun, an engineer with Jiangxi Coal formerly worked in Kenya, interviewed in November 2020.
Luo Wen, former CNMC manager worked in Kenya, interviewed in September 2020.
Ke Yinbin, interviewed in September 2020.
Ibid.
Liang Qingshan, interviewed in September 2020.
Luo Longjin, former sales manager with Sany worked in Africa, interviewed in November 2020.
Martin Holland, director of NCRE at University of Canterbury, interviewed in December 2020.
Wolfgang Schonecke, M.Afr, former director of Netzwerks Afrika Deutschland, personal communications, February 2023.
References
Abegunrin O, Manyeruke C (2020) China’s power in Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, British
Ampwera M (2019) Infrastructure and innovation: emerging priorities of EU and Chinese aid in Africa. China Q Int Strateg Stud 5(4):511–531. https://doi.org/10.1142/s2377740019500295
Belt and Road Forum (2019) List of deliverables of the second belt and road forum for international cooperation. Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. http://www.beltandroadforum.org/english/n100/2019/0427/c36-1312.html . Accessed: February 16, 2023
Cabestan P (2016) France-China cooperation in Africa: the emergence and the limits of a new initiative. Yale China-Africa Conference on Africa-China Relations. https://www.pairault.fr/sinaf/doc_importes/jpclagos.pdf. Accessed: February 7, 2023
CARI (2020) China-Africa foreign direct investment data (2003–2018). China Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University. http://www.sais-cari.org/chinese-investment-in-africa. Accessed: February 7, 2023
Che D, Bodomo A (2023) China and the European Union in Africa: win–win-lose or win–win-win?. Asia Eur J. [Preprint]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10308-023-00656-y
Chen X (2019a) “Yidaiyilu”jianshezhongdisanfangshichanghezuodefalüfengxianjiqiyingdui [Legal Risks of Third-party Market Cooperation in the Construction of “One Belt, One Road” and its response]. Zhongzhou J 5:61–64. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1003-0751.2019.05.010
Chen Y (2019b) Zhongrijiaqiangquyujishuangbianjingjihezuodedongtaijidongyinfenxi [Analysis of the Dynamics and Motivations of China and Japan in Enhancing Regional and Bilateral Economic Cooperation]. Jpn Stud 2: 23–33. https://doi.org/10.16496/j.cnki.rbyj.2019.02.004
Chinese Government (2010) Zhongguohefaguoguanyujiaqiangquanmianzhanlüehuobanguanxidelianheshengming [Joint Statement on Strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Between The People’s Republic of China and the Republic of France]. http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2010-11/05/content_1738734.htm. Accessed 10 September 2020
Chinese Government (2014) Guanyuquanmianshenhuazhongguofeimengyouhaohezuodelianheshengming [Joint Statement on Comprehensively Deepening Friendship and Cooperation between China and the African Union]. http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2014-05/06/content_2672567.htm. Accessed: February 7, 2023.
Chinese Government (2015) China’s Africa policy paper. http://www.china.org.cn/chinese/2015-12/07/content_37256882.htm. Accessed: February 7, 2023
Chinese Government (2016) likeqianghuijiandeguozongtonggaoke [Li Keqiang Meets with German President Gauck]. http://www.gov.cn/guowuyuan/2016-03/21/content_5056052.htm. Accessed: February 7, 2023
Chow L (2019) Borderless win-win cooperation in building the belt and road. Navigator, Ernst & Young. April 2019. https://assets.ey.com/content/dam/ey-sites/ey-com/en_cn/topics/china-opportunities/ey-china-overseas-investment-navigator-report-issue-3-en-20200323.pdf?download. Accessed: February 7, 2023
European Commission (2008) The EU, Africa and China: towards trilateral dialogue and cooperation. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0654:FIN:EN:PDF. Accessed: February 7, 2023
Ding M (2022) Zhongguoyuxibanyadisanfangshichanghezuoyanjiu [Research on China-Spain third-party market cooperation]. https://doi.org/10.13549/j.cnki.cn11-3959/d.2022.02.005
Duchâtel M (2019) Triple win? China and third-market cooperation, Institute Montaigne Blog. https://www.institutmontaigne.org/en/blog/triple-win-china-and-third-market-cooperation, Accessed: February 7, 2023
French Government (2015) Joint statement between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of France on third-party market cooperation. https://www.gouvernement.fr/partage/4648-declaration-conjointe-sur-les-partenariats-franco-chinois-en-marches-tiers. Accessed: February 7, 2023
Fues F, Grimm S, Laufer D (2006) China‘s Africa policy: opportunity and challenge for European development cooperation. German Development Institute Briefing Paper. https://www.die-gdi.de/uploads/media/4_2006_EN.pdf. Accessed: February 7, 2023
GTAI (2018) China in Afrika - Perspektiven, Strategien und Kooperationspotenziale für deutsche Unternehmen. Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) Report. https://dokumen.tips/documents/china-in-afrika-wege-nach-afrika-china-hat-sein-engagement-in-afrika-in-den.html?page=2. Accessed: February 7, 2023
Gu H, Ju W, and Bian M (2021) China-CEEC cooperation in the context of China-EU relation amidst the post-pandemic era. In Trošić S (ed) International Organizations and States’ Response to Covid-19. Institute of International Politics and Economics, Belgrade, pp 293. https://doi.org/10.18485/iipe_response2covid19.2021
Hu X (2019) Jiaqiangdisanfangshichanghezuo shixianyoushihubuyuhuligongying [Strengthening Third-party Market Cooperation to Achieve Comparative Advantage and Win-Win], Overseas Invest. Export Credit 4:3–4
Jin C, Chi R, Chen Y and Dong R (2018) “Yidaiyilu” changyi xia de zhongoufei channenghezuo yanjiu [A Study on China-Europe-Africa Production Capacity Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative]. Asia-Pac Econ https://doi.org/10.16407/j.cnki.1000-6052.2018.02.002
KPMG (2019) Charting the course of Belt and Road Cooperation Together, Chinese version available at: https://assets.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/cn/pdf/zh/2019/05/charting-the-course-of-belt-and-road-cooperation-together.pdf. Accessed: February 7, 2023
Li XF (2022) Trilateral international cooperation: a promising and dynamic mode to boost China-Europe partnership in Africa. China Watch 2(31). https://china-cee.eu/2022/08/31/trilateral-international-cooperation-a-promising-and-dynamic-mode-to-boost-china-europe-partnership-in-africa/. Accessed: February 7, 2023
Lin R, Chen J, Xie L (2020) Transnational governance of Zoomlion’s acquisition of Italian CIFA. In: Lin (ed) Corporate governance of Chinese multinational corporations, Palgrave Macmillan, pp 149–174. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7405-4_8
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2015) Outcomes reached by China and UK during Xi Jinping’s state visit to UK. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/topics_665678/xjpdygjxgsfw/t1309374.shtml. Accessed December 16, 2020
Mthembu P (2022) The EU’s and China’s relations with Africa: challenges and opportunities for enhanced cooperation. In: Carlo (ed) EU–China relations at a crossroads, Vol I: Looking for a new modus vivendi. Europe in the World programme, pp 60–63. https://www.epc.eu/content/PDF/2022/EU-China_Think-Tank_Compendium.pdf. Accessed 15 Feb 2024
NDRC (2019a) Guidelines and cases on third-party market cooperation. https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/xxgk/zcfb/tz/201909/W020190905514523737249.pdf. Accessed: February 7, 2023
NDRC (2019b) Tuijindisanfangshichanghezuo cujinduofanghuligongying--guojiafazhangaigeweiwaizisiyouguanfuzerenjiu《disanfangshichanghezuozhinanheanli》dajizhewen [To promote cooperation in the third-party market and promote mutual benefit and win-win results, the relevant person in charge of the Foreign Investment Department of the National Development and Reform Commission answered questions from reporters on the "Guidelines and Cases for Cooperation in the Third-Party Market"]. https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/fzggw/jgsj/wzs/sjjdt/201909/t20190904_1037024.html . Accessed: February 7, 2023
NDRC (2022) The Fourth Round China-France Third-Party Market Cooperation Pilot Project List Signed. https://en.ndrc.gov.cn/news/pressreleases/202202/t20220214_1315538.html. Accessed: February 7, 2023
Ogutu M (2019) Beijing, Brussels and Washington in Africa: from scramble to partnership?, New Agenda: S Afr J Soc Econ Policy 72:44–47. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/na/article/view/185504. Accessed: February 7, 2023
Peng B et al (2022) Pathway and key factor identification of third-party market cooperation of China’s Ooerseas energy investment projects. Technol Forecast Soc Change https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2022.121931
Siemens (2018) Siemens to enhance cooperation with China to co-construct Belt and Road. Press Release. http://w1.siemens.com.cn/news_en/news_articles_en/7972.aspx. Accessed: February 7, 2023
Stahl (2021) An EU trilateral cooperation agenda with Africa and China for a post-COVID-19 world. Hertie School, Jacques Delors Centre. https://hertieschool-f4e6.kxcdn.com/fileadmin/2_Research/1_About_our_research/2_Research_centres/6_Jacques_Delors_Centre/Publications/JDI-VisionsPaper_2021-4-1_final.pdf. Accessed: February 7, 2023
Sun L, Zhang HF (2019) Feasibility and model selection of Sino-Japanese third-party market cooperation under the framework of “One Belt, One Road.” Jpn Research 33(2):13–22. https://doi.org/10.14156/j.cnki.rbwtyj.2019.02.002
Tan YG, Chen ZH (2022) Xinguanyiqingchongjixiazhongridisanfangshichanghezuodetiaozhanyuyingdui [Challenges and Countermeasures of China-Japan Third-Party Market Cooperation under the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic]. Northeast Asia Econ Res 6(1):80–92. https://doi.org/10.19643/j.cnki.naer.2022.01.007
Tian JY, Lu GS (2022) cong“jingzheng”dao“xietiao”:zhongrizaimeigonghediqudedisanfangshichang [From “competition” to “coordination”: China and Japan’s third-party market in the Mekong region]. South and Southeast Asian Stud 2022 (01): 78–92+155. https://doi.org/10.13848/j.cnki.dnynybjb.2022.01.005
United Nations (2020) UN Comtrade Data (1992–2018). http://comtrade.un.org/data/. Accessed: February 7, 2023
Wang WF (2021) zhongfadisanfangshichanghezuo:guocheng、tezhengyuqishi [China-Frence Third-party Market Cooperation: Process, Characteristics and Enlightenment]. Int Rev 2021(04):72–100
Wu H (2019) Third-party market cooperation: new dynamics of the “Belt and Road.” Frontiers 2019(02):86–91. https://doi.org/10.16619/j.cnki.rmltxsqy.2019.02.010
Wu CB, Ding M (2021) zhongmeidisanfangshichanghezuodeshijian, tiaozhanyuzhanwang [The practice, challenges and prospects of China-U.S. third-party market cooperation]. Int Rev 2021(04):44–71. https://qikan.cqvip.com/Qikan/Article/Detail?id=7105504757. Accessed 15 Feb 2024
Xi JP (2019) Remarks by H.E. Xi Jinping President of the People’s Republic of China At the Press Conference of The Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. http://www.beltandroadforum.org/english/n100/2019/0429/c22-1397.html . Accessed: February 7, 2023
Xinhua News Agency (2016) China, Portugal pledge to upgrade economic cooperation, China, Portugal pledge to upgrade economic cooperation. http://en.people.cn/n3/2016/1010/c90883-9124418.html. Accessed 7 Feb 2023
Xiong L (2022) Yidaiyilu”changyixiadedisanfangshichanghezuo: xianshiyuqianzhan [Third-party market cooperation under the ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative: Reality and Prospect]. Frontiers. 2022 (21): 56–65+75. https://doi.org/10.16619/j.cnki.rmltxsqy.2022.21.007
Yang Y (2020) Coopération Franco-Chinoise en Marchés Tiers,” Discours de Mme YANG Yan, Conseillère politique, Ambassade de la République populaire de Chine à Paris. https://www.institutschiller.org/Cooperation-franco-chinoise-en-marches-tiers.html. Accessed: February 7, 2023
Zhang C (2017) Shefei sanfang hezuo:zhongguo heyi zuowei? [Third-party Cooperation in Africa: What Can China Do?]. West Asia Afr Stud 2017(03):3–27
Zhang Y (2019) Third-party markets cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative: Progress, challenges and recommendations. China Int Strategy Rev No 1:310–329. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42533-019-00026-7
Zheng D (2019) Zhongguo kaizhan disanfang shichanghezuo de yiyi [The significance, practice and prospect of China’s third-party market cooperation]. People. Cn. http://world.people.com.cn/n1/2019/1125/c1002-31473705.html. Accessed: February 7, 2023
Zhou J (2020) Zhongguo, oumeng, feizhou sanfanghezuo kunjing tanjiu [Research on the dilemmas of China, EU, Africa third part cooperation]. Reg Glob Dev 2020(2):59–70
Acknowledgment
This research is funded by research grant Ref: 20YJCGJW002 from Humanities and Social Sciences General Research Program of the Ministry of Education (China) /教育部人文社会科学研究“中欧共建 ‘一带一路’第三方市场合作研究（20YJCGJW002）”项目资助.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The author declares no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
The original online version of this article was revised: The authors regret that they missed to declare the funding they received during the editing of their article. Below is the acknowledgment indicating their funding. This research is funded by research grant Ref: 20YJCGJW002 from Humanities and Social Sciences General Research Program of the Ministry of Education (China) /教育部人文社会科学研究“中欧共建 ‘一带一路’第三方市场合作研究（20YJCGJW002）”项目资助.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Yun, H., Zhiqin, S., Lida, F. et al. Everybody wins? Chinese perceptions on Europe-China third-party market cooperation in Africa. Asia Eur J (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10308-024-00693-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10308-024-00693-1