China鈥檚 Engagement in International Development Cooperation: The State of the Debate

This research aims to investigate the recent evolution of China鈥檚 discourse on development and aid

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
1 January 2015
Country:
China
Document Type:
Country Report
Theme:
Governance and Conflict
First published:
1 January 2015
Authors:
Zhang, Y., Chen, Y. and Gu, G.

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the recent evolution of China鈥檚 discourse on development and aid. More precisely, how do China鈥檚 policymakers and influential scholars understand and debate China鈥檚 role in the field of international development aid, specifically in the context of China as a 鈥榬ising power鈥�?

However, to reflect upon Chinese discourse in this manner is contrary to the Chinese perspective itself, where development and aid are rarely referred to in relation to each other. Instead, in the Chinese mind-set, to this day, national development and foreign aid seem to be two unrelated issues.

It is exactly this point that shapes China鈥檚 attitude toward aid and creates divergence between China and the West on international development cooperation. Meanwhile, when dealing with China鈥檚 current policy debate on foreign aid, one primary issue is that the debate is essentially fostered by the West.

Citation

Zhang, Y.; Gu, G.; Chen, Y. China鈥檚 Engagement in International Development Cooperation: The State of the Debate. Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Brighton, UK (2015) 39 pp. [IDS Evidence Report No. 116]

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Published 1 January 2015
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