28 October, Rome, Italy – As the global context of land governance becomes increasingly complex, and the debate increasingly polarized, open and constructive discourse among key actors is imperative if the ultimate goal is good, sustainable land governance. It is in this aim that the International Land Coalition has launched the new issue in the Framing the Debate series, in order to bring the debate out into the open, and the actors to the table.
With the help of leading land experts, the Framing the Debate series seeks to clarify some of the key issues, identify areas of consensus and issues of contention for a constructive exchange of ideas. For its fourth publication in the series, focus has shifted towards China, following previous Debates on Africa, Asia and Brasil.
“This paper meets many of the objectives pursued by the Framing the Debate series. It sheds light on the land governance aspects of an increasingly influential but not always well understood global actor, China, ” said Dr. Madiodio Niasse, ILC Director.
The publication was launched yesterday at an International Conference in Beijing, co-organised by the International Land Coalition, Renmin University of China, China Land Survey and Planning Institute (CLSPI) and China Land Science Society (CLSS).
A huge milestone within the China land debate, “this conference makes a timely contribution to the understanding of China’s land issues, and lays a solid foundation for ILC’s cooperation with Chinese government, academic and research institutions,” says Yongjun Zhao, one of the lead-authors and coordinator of the publication and Assistant Professor at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. “It is playing an important role in enhancing the understanding of China’s land issues among Chinese and international land experts, practitioners and policy makers.”
Authored by leading Chinese land experts, this ground-breaking report looks at China’s growing international role in investing in, and supporting the agricultural sector in developing countries. As a fast-growing emerging economy, China’s urbanisation and industrialisation has resulted in growing challenges for land tenure reform, land use, governance and development. The study suggests that innovative land policies and institutional mechanisms are needed.
According to the study, China currently finds itself at a crossroads, having to face some difficult decisions in designing and implementing the new land reform agenda. As the world’s second largest economy, the road China decides to follow will have implications not only within its borders but within the global context of land governance and food security.
The full publication can be found on the ILC website: http://www.landcoalition.org/publications/land-governance-21st-century-framing-debates-series
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