Paths to urbanisation: Comparing the stories of Chinese and African cities

China has generated some of the most impressive urbanisation stories the world has ever seen. Since the early 1980s, more than 300 million rural migrants have moved to Chinese cities, as opportunities in urban areas have driven economic modernisation that has lifted more than 680 million people out of poverty.  Some of the urbanisation challenges China faced nearly 40 years ago are the same challenges that African countries face today.

Africa’s population of 1.1 billion will likely double by 2050, and more than 80% of that increase will occur in cities, especially in slums. The social and environmental problems and risks associated with large-scale urbanisation in Africa are widely recognised. However, the potential for urbanisation to strengthen economic growth and development across the continent has only recently been grasped.

To mark World Cities Day, this event explores the challenges and opportunities of urbanisation and industrialisation in China versus Africa and examines key policy lessons to be learned from China’s urbanisation experience, as well as how African countries might better harness economic ties to China to facilitate more liveable and productive cities.

When: 18:30 - 20:00, 29 October

Where: Sheikh Theatre, New Academic Building, London, WC2A 3LJ