Abstract:

Under the impetus of China's "Belt and Road" initiative and "Going Out" strategy, a large number of Chinese migrants have relocated to Africa to engage in small-scale commercial activities, sparking scholarly debates on how migrants integrate into the host country's economy and society. Taking the case of Chinese small business activities in Addis Ababa as a representative example, this study employs qualitative research methods—participant observation and in-depth interviews—to trace the development of Chinese migrant business networks and spatial distribution over the past two decades. The findings reveal that Chinese migrants pursue a strategy of "dual embeddedness", constructing economic and social networks across both the home and host countries in order to sustain their livelihoods and pursue development. In response to exclusion from host societies and their own sense of insecurity, Chinese migrants have established "enclaves" as self-segregated economic and social spaces. The formation of such enclaves is not merely a passive reaction to marginalization, but also an active strategy undertaken by Chinese migrants to safeguard their interests and maintain their social networks. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the characteristics of migrant small-scale business activities and offers insights into facilitating the overseas operations and everyday lives of Chinese migrants.

Key words: Addis Ababa, Chinese migrants, small business, dual embeddedness, enclave

摘要：

在中国“一带一路”倡议和“走出去”战略的推动下，大量中国移民迁移至非洲从事小型商业活动，这一现象引发了关于移民如何在东道国融入当地经济和社会的学术讨论。研究以埃塞俄比亚首都亚的斯亚贝巴中国移民的小型商业活动为代表性案例，采用参与式观察和深度访谈的定性研究方法，系统梳理了过去20年间中国移民商业网络和空间分布的发展脉络。研究揭示，中国移民通过在母国和东道国之间建立经济和社会网络，采取“双重嵌入性”策略以实现其生存和发展。面对当地社会的排斥及自身的不安全感，中国移民塑造出“飞地”这一自我隔离的经济和社会空间。飞地的形成不仅是面对排斥的被动反应，更是中国移民为保护自身利益、维护社会网络而采取的主动策略。本研究有助于深入理解移民小型商业活动的特征，并为促进中国移民的海外经营和生活提供了启示。

关键词: 亚的斯亚贝巴, 中国移民, 小型商业, 双重嵌入性, 飞地