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VERSION:2.0
PRODID:icalendar-ruby
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
X-WR-CALNAME:The Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative in Africa
X-WR-TIMEZONE:Eastern Time (US & Canada)
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20261008T050047Z
UID:tag:localist.com\,2008:EventInstance_52028509151826
DTSTART:20260220T153000Z
DTEND:20260220T200000Z
DESCRIPTION:George Washington University location USC 309 Theater style (st
 age)\n\nFriday\, February 20\, 2026 10:45am-2:15pm\n\nEvent Overview\n \n\
 nThe Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has had a monumental impact on Sino Af
 rican relations over the past few years. We at Operation US Africa are bri
 nging experts in Africa\, China\, and the United States to discuss the eco
 nomic ramifications of this project including infrastructure construction\
 , investment\, and critical minerals. Social impacts including the change 
 in diplomatic perception of China compared to the United States in Africa.
 \n \n\n10:30am - 11:00am Check in\, Breakfast provided\n \n\n11am - 12pm: 
 High Level Dialogue: US-Africa ties in the context of the BRI in Africa\n\
 nThe United States has had consistent bipartisan interest in the construct
 ion of the Lobido Corridor to receive critical minerals to counter Chinese
  influence. This conversation comes at a critical moment in US-African rel
 ations where the US can change its position to a country focused on econom
 ic development in Africa rather than just aid. We seek to foster professio
 nal discussion and bipartisan agreement on actions the US should take to c
 ollaborate with nations as partners. This panel will examine the American 
 and African perspective on the BRI and how the US position on the continen
 t has changed since its introduction in 2014.\n \n\nDr. Guevara Yao\, Vice
  President\, US-Africa Business CenterH.E. Frank Tayali\, Minister of Tran
 sport and Logistics\, Republic of Zambia (virtual\, if confirmed)TBD Afric
 an Affairs at Dept. of StateModerator: Mr. Julian Pecquet\, US Corresponde
 nt at the Africa Report (confirmed speaker)\n 12pm-12:30pm Lunch Break\n \
 n\n12:30-1:30pm: Economic Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative in Africa
 \n\nFrom military exercises in South Africa\, to construction of ports in 
 Ghana to railways in Kenya\, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has made a
  substantial imprint on the Africa continent. This panel will evaluate the
  Economic impact of the project on countries across the continent whether 
 through improving economic trade axes such as bridges\, roads\, and railwa
 ys\, increasing the exploitation of rare earth minerals\, the BRI has chan
 ged interpretations of the sphere of African investment to make infrastruc
 ture construction more feasible. Furthermore\, the emerging market for Chi
 nese goods such as electric vehicles\, cellphones\, and t-shirts sold at l
 ower cost than their Western counterparts have flooded African markets. Th
 is panel will explore the Economic Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative 
 and corresponding Chinese influence in Africa.\n\nAmbassador (ret) Troy Fi
 trell\, fmr. US Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea\, Board Member\, SAGI
 NT (confirmed speaker)\n\nMr. Andrew Dabalen\, Africa Chief Economist\, Wo
 rld Bank (confirmed speaker) \n\nEbenezer Obadare\, Douglas Dillon Senior 
 Fellow for Africa Studies\, Council on Foreign Relations (confirmed speake
 r)\n\nModerator: Professor David Shinn\, Former US Ambassador to Burkina F
 aso and Ethiopia (confirmed speaker)\n \n\n1:35pm-2:35pm: Social Impact of
  the Belt and Road Initiative in Africa\n\nThe Belt and Road Initiative wi
 th its infrastructure endeavors has a social subsection focused on promoti
 ng China in African media and in the social consciousness. This panel will
  discuss exactly how much the Chinese efforts at improving infrastructure 
 and engaging African elites impact how Africans view China in the context 
 of great power competition with the United States and its overall reliabil
 ity as a diplomatic partner.\n\nH.E. David Kiplagat Kerich\, Kenyan Ambass
 ador to the US\n\nAssociate Professor at Georgetown University\, Ken Opalo
  (confirmed virtual speaker)\n \n\nEnd
GEO:38.899924;-77.047113
LOCATION:University Student Center\, 309
SUMMARY:The Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative in Africa
URL;VALUE=URI:https://calendar.gwu.edu/event/the-impact-of-the-belt-and-roa
 d-initiative-in-africa
CATEGORIES:Academic
END:VEVENT
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