The human side of China-Africa relations with Dr Jupiter Wang United Citizens of Europe

What happens when China invests in Africa? Beyond economic growth and geopolitical influence, what happens when a Chinese worker falls in love with an Ethiopian colleague? What do everyday encounters tell us about power, culture, and globalization? In this episode of the United Citizens of Europe Podcast, we explore the human side of China–Africa relations with Dr. Wei Wang (Jupiter), postdoctoral fellow at the University of Amsterdam. Drawing on years of ethnographic research, Dr. Wang takes us beyond headlines to examine how Chinese soft power operates through culture, intimacy, labor, and creativity. We discuss cross-border marriages between Chinese men and Ethiopian women and the growing China–Africa fashion industry as a lens to understand global influence from the ground up. The conversation challenges traditional Global North / Global South narratives, highlighting China’s complex role as a rising Global South power rather than a conventional Western actor. The episode also reflects on Europe and the EU’s role in these dynamics: how China–Africa relations are perceived from Europe, what is often misunderstood, and why European audiences need new frameworks to understand global power shifts. A thought-provoking conversation for anyone interested in Chinese soft power, globalization, China–Africa relations, the Global South, fashion and culture, migration, and Europe’s place in a changing world. Host of the episode : ⁠Luca P. De Cristofaro Guest : Jupiter Wang Follow United Citizens of Europe : IG : ⁠@⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠unitedcitizensofeurope⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook : ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠United Citizens of Europe⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

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The human side of China-Africa relations with Dr Jupiter Wang United Citizens of Europe is an episode from United Citizens of Europe Podcast by United Citizens of Europe.

This episode is 00:35:31 long.

This episode was published on Jan 17, 2026.

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