With the continuation of the “Belt and Road” project, the number and scale of China’s overseas infrastructure construction projects have continued to increase. Improving the socioeconomic benefits of the projects, advancing environmental sustainability and community inclusiveness, together with promoting the communication and coordination between the financiers and builders of China’s overseas projects and the local area, have become an important prerequisite for future development of relevant undertakings. To this end, a collaboration agreement was signed on the development of China’s Overseas Infrastructure Guidebook between Institute of Global Public Policy (IGPP), Fudan University and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), South Africa.

According to the agreement, both parties will collaborate on the development of China’s Overseas Infrastructure Construction Guidebook through conducting research on best case and comparative case studies in different infrastructure fields, and produce a set of outputs that will provide various stakeholders in China’s overseas infrastructure construction with research-based policy recommendations. The selection of research cases will mainly focus on Africa and Southeast Asia.

Founded in 1934, the SAIIA is South Africa’s premier research institute on international issues. As an independent, non-governmental think tank, it has a long history of providing thought leadership in Africa. Its work spans foreign policy, governance, the environment, economic policy and social development, linking local experiences with global debates. Its African-generated knowledge provides local and regional decision-makers with independent, evidence-based options for Africa’s future development.