THE China-Africa cooperation stands as a beacon of equality, common development and shared prosperity and most recent visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi vividly reflects it. The Chinese Foreign Minister visited Namibia, Republic of Congo, Chad and Nigeria and met with the high officials and head of the governments and the states alike. This tour clearly demonstrates China’s enduring commitment to strengthening cooperation with Africa and bolstering solidarity among nations of the Global South. Additionally, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) of last year, where Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed that bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the level of strategic relations. Thus the China-Africa elevated relations shared future for the new era. The move marked a milestone in China-Africa ties, highlighting China’s firm determination to continuously elevate China-Africa cooperation to new levels.
The principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith have driven significant cooperation between China and Africa, contributing to sustainable development through mutually beneficial projects. Over the past 35 years, Chinese companies have helped African nations build or upgrade over 10,000 km of railways, 100,000 km of highways, 1,000 bridges, 100 ports and 66,000 km of power transmission lines, fostering connectivity across the continent. Additionally, China’s investments in hydropower, wind power and solar energy, along with advancements in agricultural technology, have addressed key challenges in food security and increased crop yields by 30 to 60 percent, benefiting over one million farmers. These efforts have boosted Africa’s infrastructure, technology, industrial growth and access to education, healthcare and energy, supporting poverty reduction, climate change response and economic diversification, while aligning with long-term development goals.
Now, evidently, the China-Africa cooperation extends beyond bilateral ties, offering a model for partnerships between developing nations. As major members in the Global South, China and Africa have joined forces to advance major development initiatives, aligning China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with the African Continental Free Trade Area. This cooperation has created unprecedented opportunities for Global South nations to better integrate into global value chains, unlocking pathways for industrialization, job creation and infrastructure development. Both shared a vision of promoting a more equitable and inclusive global governance system, one that amplifies the voices of Global South nations on the international stage. China was the first country to explicitly express its support for the African Union’s membership of the G20. By backing Africa’s entry into the G20, China not only boosts Africa’s global stature but also strengthens the voice of the Global South on critical issues such as climate change, global health, poverty reduction and trade reform. The Chinese policy makers also promoted “Made in Africa, Used for Africa” and promoted China-Africa medicine cooperation transforming it economies, industries and societies alike. It is pertinent to mention that nearly 6,000 guests, including leaders from all 53 African countries that have diplomatic ties with China, the chairperson of the African Union Commission, the UN Secretary-General, and other international dignitaries, convening in Beijing for rigorously participated in the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) confirming close liaison in terms of political consultations, economic integration, trans-regional connectivity and last but not least, people-to-people contacts.
The 2024 Summit of the FOCAC announced the six key propositions and the 10 partnership actions for jointly advancing modernization between China and Africa. A number of landmark projects and “small but beautiful” projects have been implemented and are thriving across Africa. Moreover, during the Covid pandemic China donated more vaccines to Africa than any other country. China has long been a major contributor to healthcare in Africa with a relationship that goes back to the 1960s. Developing countries showing they prefer investment and infrastructure development over the West’s moralizing hypocrisy and badmouthing China pledged US$51 billion in new funding to the continent over the next three years, observers, particularly in the West and regional rival India accused Beijing of trapping African nations with unsustainable debt. In summary, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent visit to Africa once again highlights the enduring depth and dynamism of China-Africa relations. It continues China’s tradition of prioritizing Africa as its foreign minister’s first overseas destination each year, a symbolic gesture that has spanned over three decades which has nothing do with any symbolism. The most recently held tour was also rooted in tangible objectives, emphasizing economic cooperation, security collaboration, and diplomatic alignment with African nations because Africa holds a pivotal place in China’s global strategy as an emerging market and a partner in reshaping global governance. The tours simply demonstrate China’s desire to deepen bilateral and multilateral ties.
It seems that the primary focus of the visit was the reinforcement of economic cooperation aligning China’s investments with African nations’ development agendas, emphasizing infrastructure, industrialization, and renewable energy. Obviously, Africa’s need for infrastructure remains critical, with gaps in transportation, energy, and digital connectivity limiting the growth potential and the Chinese connection and cooperation are creating living miracles. Interestingly, one highlight of the visit was China’s pledge of US$136 million in military assistance, along with plans to train 6,000 troops and 1,000 police officers underscoring China’s increasing role in addressing the continent’s security challenges. Last but not least the current visit also advanced China’s support for Africa’s aspirations on the global stage fostering solidarity with African countries in their pursuit of equity in international decision-making processes. Additionally, the role of cultural and educational exchanges in strengthening ties was also emphasized. Agreements were reached to enhance academic cooperation, enabling more African students to study in China and facilitating knowledge transfer in science, technology, and innovation.
—The writer is President, Pak-China Corridor of Knowledge, Executive Director, CSAIS, regional expert: China, CPEC & BRI.
(mehmoodulhassankhan@yahoo.com)
