Perceptions and Frustrations: China's Companies in the Global South

Chinese companies have been at the forefront of China’s rapidly expanding footprint in the Global South in the past two decades. In their engagement with Chinese companies, some local officials and communities in Asia, Africa and the Pacific marvel at the speed of construction by Chinese companies. This so-called“China speed”, largely achieved through efficient management and hardwork of Chinese labour, often faces local challenges. In Ethiopia, for instance, some Chinese engineers think local Ethiopian supervisors are unnecessarily strict with their oversight duties, which suggests the agency of local societies in their interaction with Chinese companies.