WHO:             David Shinn, former U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia (1996-99) and to Burkina Faso, adjunct professor of international affairs at George Washington University          

WHAT:           University of Pennsylvania African Studies Center Spring Lecture Series 

WHEN:           Wednesday, April 4, 3:30-5 p.m.

WHERE:         Room B26, Stiteler Hall, 208 S. 37th St.                                           

The People's Republic of China once limited its involvement in African affairs to building an occasional railroad or port, supporting African liberation movements, and loudly proclaiming socialist solidarity with the downtrodden of the continent. Now Chinese diplomats and Chinese companies, both state-owned and private, along with an influx of Chinese workers, have spread throughout Africa.

David Shinn will explore this shift, widely hailed as one of the most important geopolitical phenomena of our time. His talk coincides with the University of Pennsylvania Press' forthcoming publication of China and Africa: A Century of Engagement, which Shinn co-authored with Joshua Eisenman.

Before the talk, students are invited to meet with Shinn 2 to 3 p.m. in Room 639 of Williams Hall,  255 S. 36th St.

Additional information is available by contacting Ali Dinar at aadinar@sas.upenn.edu or 215-898-6610 or Lee Cassanelli at lcassane@sas.upenn.edu or 215 898-3921

The event, whihc is free and open to the public. is co-sponsored by the Center for East Asian Studies.