The Chinese Academy for Social Sciences (CASS) has invited the Téresys Foundation in China in the framework of its international activities to present a comprehensive educational package on investment opportunities in Africa.

The mission took place in the week 14 to 18 April 2008. Two seminars have been organized, one in Beijing the 15 April by the CASS with the assistance of the UN Trade Point targeted to researchers, officials and journalists, the second one on the 17 April, with the assistance of the Municipal Economic Commission in the town of Hangzhou (6 million people, 200 km SW of Shanghai) targeted to local institutions and private business sector managers.

The delegation was composed by Mr Piero Scarpellini, Member of the Board of Directors of the Téresys Foundation, Mr.Berhane Cahsai, Former Special Assistant of the General Secretary of ACP Secretariat at the European Commission, Mr.Giorgio Bonacci, Member of the Scientific Committee of the Téresys Foundation, Mr. Alexandre Felipe Gago, Vice President of LAP and Mr. Riccardo Rossotto, International Business Lawyer.

In his introduction, Mr. P. Scarpellini presented the objectives and the main activities of Téresys, stressing the high level expertise of the members of its scientific committee.

The members of the Téresys team presented lectures on (a) Institutional development and policies in Africa, (b) EU/Africa relationship and official development assistance, (c) Business opportunities towards the African markets and (d) Legal systems in Africa and management of contract negotiations.

The conclusions of the two seminars highlighted the existing opportunities of cooperation between Africa, China and Europe. The possible role of the Foundation in assisting potential Chinese institutions and investors was emphasised, taking into account the wide range of experience of Téresys, its contacts with African leadership and understanding of the policies and operational instruments of the European institutions.

The seminars have been well received by the organising institutions and by the Chinese participants who expressed a keen interest both for the approach and the substance of the lectures. Prof. Luo Hongbo Director of the Institute of European Studies in the CASS accompanied the mission all over the week. She suggested a possible second visit by Téresys in China, later this year for a similar event and deepen the discussions both at policy and operational level in another province.

In Hangzhou, the mission was warmly received by the local authorities and had the opportunity to visit the Hangzhou Economic & Technological Development Area (HEDA) and to have interesting discussions with the HEDA Investment Promotion Bureau on their policies and practices to support industrial high-tech. development in the region.

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