A few days ago, the China-Africa Non-governmental Chamber of Commerce and the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations jointly held the "Sixth China-Africa Economic Cooperation and Overseas Security Seminar". Representatives of relevant departments, universities and more than 50 Chinese-funded enterprises attended the meeting.
Nan Gengxu, president of the China-Africa Association for the Promotion of Non-governmental Exchanges and Cooperation, submitted a report entitled "How to Protect the Interests and Security of Overseas Chinese from the Perspective of African Chinese". This article provides an in-depth analysis of the security challenges faced by the Chinese diaspora and Chinese enterprises in African countries through examples, and proposes suggestions and strategies to protect their safety and interests. ** Noted that social instability, misunderstanding and prejudice against Chinese, as well as cultural differences and estrangements are important causes of insecurity. It describes effective safety management strategies, cultural integration, social responsibility, and the role of philanthropy and philanthropic activities in building a good corporate image and gaining the trust of local people. In addition, the article also emphasized the importance of cooperation between overseas Chinese and Chinese enterprises and local people, and the necessity of participating in the construction of people's livelihood to enhance China-Africa friendship.
* As the influence of Chinese companies in Africa continues to expand, how to build good relations with local communities has become the key to promoting long-term development. For a long time, because of differences in language, religion and culture, the Chinese have always been isolated from the local society, and the Chinese have formed their own circle of life and interaction, which has caused estrangement from the local area, and has caused the local people to think that Chinese are "aliens" and "aliens", so they will also be regarded as the target of attack by the local people.
* Notes that in Africa, some people may believe that all Chinese are very wealthy and therefore a high-risk group for robbery. At the same time, due to the language barrier, it may not be easy for overseas Chinese to integrate with the local community, and this sense of isolation may further exacerbate the misunderstanding and suspicion of the local community about them, on November 28, 2023 at the overseas Chinese security meeting held in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, a local police chief complained that there is a big language barrier in communication with the Chinese community, and the Chinese can only use some simple English words to communicate with ***, but this is not enough for both parties to understand and understand, let alone in-depth communication. In this case, the police can only take coercive measures to take the person to the police station and find an interpreter to deal with it.
* It was further noted that cultural differences are another important challenge for the Chinese diaspora and Chinese companies in Africa. Due to differences in cultural backgrounds, it is often difficult for overseas Chinese to fully integrate into the local society. In some cases, this cultural divide can lead to misunderstandings, communication barriers, and even conflict. For example, the way Chinese companies work and manage may differ from local Xi, which can lead to labor disputes or social **. In addition, due to their lack of familiarity with local laws and social norms, overseas Chinese may inadvertently violate local laws or Xi customs and thus encounter difficulties. In Botswana, for example, the local diaspora often leaves work late when running a business, which not only is perceived by the locals as robbing them of their jobs, but also provides opportunities for local criminals. In addition, the Xi of storing and carrying large amounts of cash at home is also an important reason for the attack by criminals, so much so that the Chinese are called mobile "cash machines".
With regard to the security of overseas Chinese and Chinese enterprises, it is pointed out that for overseas Chinese and Chinese enterprises in Africa, establishing an effective security management strategy is the key to ensuring their safety and continuous operations. These strategies should include establishing safety warning systems, enhancing employee safety training, raising awareness of local laws and culture, and building good partnerships with local** and communities.
The author quotes Wang Xuefeng, Chinese ambassador to Botswana, in his speech at the Botswana Overseas Chinese Security Conference, "Safety is first and foremost for individuals to improve their awareness of self-security, assume the main responsibility and first responsible person for their own safety, strengthen safety education and training and guidance for overseas Chinese, maintain close communication and coordination with the embassy, and jointly be the defender of a safe business environment." Therefore, it is necessary for overseas Chinese to master certain safety knowledge and prevention methods, which should include first-aid knowledge, anti-robbery and anti-theft skills, methods of dealing with kidnapping and terrorist attacks, as well as a basic understanding of local laws and culture and how to deal with incidents.
In terms of social responsibility, Nan Gengxu pointed out in ** that assuming social responsibility means that enterprises and individuals should not only pay attention to their own economic interests, but also consider the impact on society and the environment. In Africa, Chinese companies actively contribute to the development of local communities by participating in or initiating various social responsibility projects, such as education, medical and health care, and environmental protection. In Kenya, Chinese companies have funded the establishment of schools and provided scholarships to local students, the famous wildlife protector Xingba has protected wild animals in Kenya, and the China-Africa Wildlife Conservation Forum organized by Global Media Group in South Africa. In Botswana, the Chinese community has built houses for the local poor and subsidized poor orphans, which not only improves the local education conditions, but also enhances the social image of the enterprise and promotes friendly relations between China and Africa. Encouraging overseas Chinese and Chinese enterprises in Africa to actively participate in local livelihood projects is also an effective way to improve the local people's "different view" of Chinese, such as actively participating in local agricultural production, and helping local farmers increase crop yields and increase income through China's advanced agricultural technology and modern agricultural equipment.
To sum up, the security problems encountered by overseas Chinese and Chinese enterprises in Africa are not only social, economic and political complexities, but also cultural differences and misunderstandings and prejudices against Chinese. An effective safety management strategy, including the establishment of a safety early warning system, enhanced safety training, increased awareness of local laws and culture, and good cooperative relations with local** and communities, are essential to improve the safety of the Chinese diaspora and Chinese businesses.
In addition, promoting cultural integration and assuming social responsibility are important strategies to enhance the image and safety of overseas Chinese in the local area. By participating in public welfare activities and community services, and actively undertaking social responsibilities, overseas Chinese and Chinese enterprises can not only enhance their image and security in African countries, but also contribute to the development of local communities and further promote China-Africa friendship. Therefore, the combination of people's livelihood construction and public welfare activities is a necessary measure to protect the interests and security of overseas Chinese and Chinese people, and at the same time promote the development of China-Africa friendly relations. (ENDS).