China / key documents

The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is the world's largest and most controversial hydropower project.

"Newly Displaced Population," 2004 (Liu Xiaodong, Courtesy of the Mary Boone Gallery, New York)

As part of its going-out strategy, China is rapidly expanding its economic cooperation with Africa. China Exim Bank plays an important role in this cooperation. The policy bank is financing more than 250 projects in Africa, primarily in the infrastructure sector.

Update on China's energy industry reforms and the Nu, Lancang and Jinsha hydropower dams

The purpose of this research paper is to provide a brief update on what is happening in Yunnan – looking at the Nu, Lancang and Jinsha rivers – and then situate this within the wider context of China’s changing political economy. There are two key messages this report seeks to deliver. First, there is a need for China to revisit the energy policy, including the hydropower component, in the light of the new direction signalled by the New and Scientific Development Concept announced in 2003 by China’s new political leadership, and reinforced by President Hu Jintao at the 10th National People’s Congress (NPC) meeting in March 2004. Second, there is a need to overhaul energy development governance processes including: option formulation, debate, evaluation, negotiation and monitoring. The approval and impact assessment processes are two key areas requiring strengthening.