Spatial distribution of China's aid to Africa: A study based on Standard Deviational Ellipse

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2024.03.20222124

Abstract

Abstract:

Poverty is at the forefront of Africa's efforts to achieve the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). China's aid to Africa takes poverty eradication as its starting point and goal. Does the spatial distribution of China's aid to Africa take into account the spatial distribution of Africa's poor population? This paper used "Aid Spatial Difference" to measure the difference between the spatial distribution of China's aid to Africa and the spatial distribution of the poor population in Africa. Based on the geocoded data of China's aid to Africa and the population data of Africa from 2000 to 2014, this paper adopted Standard Deviation Ellipse method to analyze the spatial-temporal evolution relationship between China's aid to Africa and African poor population. This paper tested that spatial-temporal evolution relationship from two perspectives, the number of aid projects and the amount of aid. This paper finds that the spatial distribution of China's aid to Africa favors Africa's poor population. It is especially prominent in the location of aid projects, the growth rate of aid to Africa and the change of the gravity center of aid amount. This is consistent with China's purpose of prioritizing poverty eradication and helping Africa to achieve the UN's 2030 SDGs.

Key words: Chinese foreign aid to Africa, aid spatial difference, poverty reduction, Standard Deviational Ellipse

摘要：

贫困问题是非洲实现联合国2030年可持续发展目标所要解决的首要问题，中国对非援助以消除贫困为出发点和落脚点，那么中国对非援助的空间分配是否考虑了非洲贫困人口的空间分布情况呢？以“援助空间差异”衡量中国对非援助空间分配和非洲贫困人口空间分布之间的差异，基于2000—2014年中国对非援助项目地理编码数据和非洲人口数据，运用标准差椭圆的方法，从援助项目数和援助金额两个视角分析中国对非援助和非洲贫困人口的时空演化关系。研究发现，中国对非援助的空间分配倾向于非洲贫困人口的空间分布，特别是在援助项目选址、对非援助的增速和援助金额重心的变化上表现更为突出。这与中国对外援助坚持优先消除贫困的目标相一致，有助于帮助非洲实现联合国2030年可持续发展目标。

关键词: 中国对非援助, 援助空间差异, 减贫, 标准差椭圆

Jianmei HU, Jialin YU, Chao ZHANG. Spatial distribution of China's aid to Africa: A study based on Standard Deviational Ellipse[J]. World Regional Studies, 2024, 33(3): 79-88.

胡建梅, 于嘉林, 张超. 基于标准差椭圆的中国对非洲援助空间分配问题研究[J]. 世界地理研究, 2024, 33(3): 79-88.

Figures/Tables 6

Tab.1 Aid spatial difference index measured by the number of aid projects

指数	2000—2004	2005—2009	2010—2014
$S D I a, p p$	0.234	0.150	0.151
$S D I a, e p$	0.302	0.363	0.350

Tab.1 Aid spatial difference index measured by the number of aid projects

指数	2000—2004	2005—2009	2010—2014
$S D I a, p p$	0.234	0.150	0.151
$S D I a, e p$	0.302	0.363	0.350

Tab.2 SDE parameters of spatial distribution of China's aid projects to Africa and poor population in Africa

参数	中国对非援助项目数分配椭圆				非洲贫困人口分布椭圆
参数	2000—2004	2005—2009	2010—2014		2000		2005	2010		2015
平均中心经度/°	21.083	20.466		20.863	18.556	18.484			18.586		18.577
平均中心纬度/°	－0.369	－0.774		－0.890	1.107	0.906			1.293		1.471
长轴/km	3 083.632	2 943.496		3 247.773	2 925.371	2 921.180			2 917.197		2 915.758
短轴/km	1 953.287	1 590.417		1 610.182	1 657.670	1 644.337			1 622.838		1 596.506
椭圆面积/(万km²）	1 892.121	1 470.578		1 642.741	1 523.361	1 508.915			1 487.154		1 462.299
旋转角/度	125.445	112.356		118.936	119.423	118.487			117.613		116.787
密集度/(个/万km²）	0.133	0.553		0.379	27.720	31.873			37.049		43.543
形状指数	0.633	0.540		0.496	0.567	0.563			0.556		0.548

Fig.1 Distance between the center of gravity of China's aid projects to Africa and the center of gravity of the poor in Africa

Tab.3 Aid spatial difference index measured by the amount of aid projects

指数	2000—2004年	2005—2009年	2010—2014年
$S D I a, p p$	0.510	0.133	0.314
$S D I a, e p$	0.453	0.323	0.383

Tab.3 Aid spatial difference index measured by the amount of aid projects

指数	2000—2004年	2005—2009年	2010—2014年
$S D I a, p p$	0.510	0.133	0.314
$S D I a, e p$	0.453	0.323	0.383

Fig.2 Distance between the center of gravity of China's aid to Africa and the center of gravity of the poor in Africa

Tab.4 SDE parameter of China's aid amounts to Africa and poor population in Africa

参数	中国对非援助金额分配椭圆			非洲贫困人口分布椭圆
参数	2000—2004	2005—2009	2010—2014	2000	2005	2010	2015
平均中心经度/°E	24.925	20.341	25.280	18.556	18.484	18.586	18.577
平均中心纬度/°N	5.962	－0.228	0.257	1.107	0.906	1.293	1.471
长轴/km	2 223.234	2 879.840	2 708.556	2 925.371	2 921.180	2 917.197	2 915.758
短轴/km	1 960.936	1 727.390	1 820.616	1 657.670	1 644.337	1 622.838	1 596.506
椭圆面积/（万km²）	1 369.544	1 562.705	1 549.096	1 523.361	1 508.915	1 487.154	1 462.299
旋转角/度	55.489	115.244	109.624	119.423	118.487	117.613	116.787
密集度/（千美元/km²）	0.274	1.005	1.507	27.720	31.873	37.049	43.543
形状指数	0.882	0.600	0.672	0.567	0.563	0.556	0.548

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