On November 19, 2024, the Fudan Institute for Global Public Policy (IGPP) organized the 10th lecture of the Young Scholars Symposium. The symposium featured keynote presentations on the theme of by Yuezhou Yang, a research fellow at the LSE-Fudan Global Public Policy Research Centre. The symposium was hosted by Assistant Professor Yunxiong Li from IGPP.

Dr. Yang earned her PhD in International Development at the LSE and holds a master’s degree in Bioenergy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research focuses on property rights systems in Africa.

Dr. Yang introduced the topic—whether Chinese state-owned capital exhibits distinct characteristics—through the book The Specter of Global China: Politics, Labor, and Foreign Investment in Africa. By comparing the characteristics of Chinese capital in agricultural sectors of Tanzania and Zambia, Dr. Yang further explored the uniqueness of Chinese investments in African agriculture, highlighting what she termed “embedded improvisation,” the idea that Chinese investors are not entirely independent in global capital flows but are profoundly influenced by domestic policies, cultural contexts, and the host country’s policies and social structures.

Dr. Yang analyzed how accessible land acquisition model in Zambia facilitated the rapid expansion of Chinese capital in local agriculture. In contrast, land policies in Tanzania presented challenges for Chinese investors in acquiring land. Dr. Yang emphasized that the diversity of Chinese capital in African agriculture stems from both economic interests and the intricate interplay of cultural, political, and social factors.

During the Q&A session, faculty and students engaged in lively discussions. Dr. Yang shared her insights on choosing dissertation topics and theoretical framework. She further elaborated on how the historical contexts of Tanzania and Zambia have shaped respective policies.

After the lecture, Assistant Professor Li presented a commemorative gift to Dr. Yang, and the lecture concluded successfully with a group photo.