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The Global Value Chains (GVCs) for Developing Countries seminar in Beijing, China, was held from April 1–14, 2026. The programme was convened by the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO), a key capacity-building institution under China’s Ministry of Commerce. It blended technical lectures, institutional engagements, field visits, and cultural tours, providing both analytical insights and practical exposure to China’s development trajectory, industrialization, and value chain integration approaches. The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa was represented by Bisong Anthony Ekpang.
The seminar sessions, held at AIBO in Beijing, covered a wide range of topics, including China’s modernization and governance philosophy, the Belt and Road Initiative, emerging trends in global value chains and opportunities for developing countries, industrial upgrading, industrial policy and export-led development, and trade and investment integration. A major component of the programme also featured on-site learning and a study tour to Jinan in Shandong Province.
Participants engaged in structured business networking sessions with Chinese firms and international counterparts, supporting exchanges on market access and trade barriers and strengthening linkages for future research and policy dialogue. Cultural visits across Beijing and Jinan, alongside engagement with AIBO leadership, including Wu Hao, reinforced the seminar’s development insights. Overall, the lessons gained align with CSEA priorities, particularly in advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), promoting regional integration, strengthening industrial policy design, enhancing SME competitiveness, and supporting evidence-based policymaking. The engagement also opens opportunities for continued collaboration in training, policy dialogue, and knowledge exchange.
Photos:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nOhZhYR30y85E-lf-WjL5gWIoOpp6s02?usp=drive_link
