Hosted by the Department of Cultural Studies at Lingnan University, Hong Kong, the 6th “Conference of the Chinese in Africa/Africans in China Research Network” will bring together scholars from all over the world to engage with the past, present and, perhaps more importantly, the future of China-Africa relations. ​​

​​Uncertainty about a future defined by serious environmental, geopolitical, and financial crises is the condition that characterises the contemporary moment. The main theme of the conference, “Precarious Futures?: Geopolitics, Mobility and Materiality” aims to address the complex times we live in through the analysis of various aspects of China-Africa relations. The conference will take place from July 9 to 11, 2020 in Hong Kong, a unique city that offers a vibrant cultural and political backdrop and that lies at the crossroads of contemporary geopolitical struggles.  ​​

​​Over the last decade, the Chinese in Africa/Africans in China Research Network has contributed to move the global conversation about China-Africa forward in a critical and constructive way while developing a transnational community of scholars and practitioners who value dialogue, equity, and inclusiveness. The network has been crucial at facilitating intellectual exchanges, promoting academic research, and sharing information about engagements between China and the African continent and how this has been impacting geopolitics at a global scale. The conference is held every other year in different parts of the world. Previous conferences have taken place in 2018 Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium), 2016 University of Nairobi (Kenya), 2014 Jinan University (China).​​

​​We hope that the 2020 conference will bring scholars into inter- and cross-disciplinary and institutional dialogues through conference presentations, film screenings, artist workshops, book launches and roundtables. Building also on existing research at Lingnan University, this event will contribute to the development of opportunities for networking and future research collaborations. Our goal is to provide a platform to promote the exchange of knowledge, research outputs and experiences, and encourage the creation of further links among scholars and practitioners.​​

We welcome contributions from PhD students and early career scholars. We particularly welcome participation from the African continent. The Organising Committee will offer a small number of grants to assist participants from under-represented regions with travel, accommodation and/or registration expenses. You may apply for the fund by sending an email with the subject line “CAAC Assistance Fund” directly at caac2020hk@gmail.com, after receiving the conditional letter of acceptance.

​​Spread the news!​​ Please share this message with your colleagues and friends – we look forward to seeing you in Hong Kong in July 2020!a