Chinese President Xi Jinping announced on Thursday the elevation of overall China-Africa relations to an “all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era” during his speech at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing.
He also unveiled a three-year plan to implement 10 partnership actions with Africa, aimed at advancing the modernization of both China and Africa. Among these actions, Xi pledged to grant zero-tariff treatment to 33 African countries, carry out 30 infrastructure connectivity projects in Africa, implement 1,000 “small and beautiful” livelihood projects, create at least one million jobs for Africa, and more.
Experts note that African countries are increasingly looking to China for modernization and economic development. They also stated that the elevation of China-Africa ties will not only accelerate the modernization efforts of China and Africa, but also serve as a powerful example of cooperation among Global South countries and beyond. The 10 partnership actions, experts added, will help African countries to overcome poverty and achieve industrialization, agricultural modernization, digitalization and green transformation.
China-Africa cooperation in focus
“China is helping African countries to develop their economies, enhance their infrastructures and improve their peoples’ livelihood. During the process, China does not interfere in their internal affairs, respects their choice of development paths suited to their national conditions, and encourages their political independence,” Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China told CGTN.
Since FOCAC’s inception in 2000, Chinese companies have made significant contributions to Africa’s infrastructure development, having built over 10,000 kilometers of railways, nearly 100,000 km of highways, around 1,000 bridges, 100 ports, and 66,000 km of power transmission lines.
Wang analyzed that improving China-Africa ties not only brings tangible benefits to African people but also presents significant opportunities for China’s economy. He noted that Africa supplies China with essential raw materials and food, which are vital for securing and stabilizing supply chains, while also offering a promising market for China’s innovative technologies and a testing ground for setting global standards. Furthermore, although many in Africa lack access to necessary skills training and innovation platforms, enhanced cooperation between China and Africa can spark new ideas through cross-cultural collaboration, advance Africa’s technological progress, and create substantial employment opportunities.
Reflecting on the Western approach to modernization, which has inflicted immense suffering on developing countries, Xi emphasized the principles guiding China and Africa’s joint pursuit of modernization. He stated that it should be equitable, win-win, inclusive, eco-friendly and peaceful, while always putting people first.
Tang Zhichao, director of the Political Research Division at the Institute of West-Asian and African Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told CGTN that these six aspects not only serve as fundamental principles for the modernization of China and African countries but also reflect their shared values in the pursuit of modernization.
“These six aspects offer a comprehensive overview of China’s understanding to modernization. They underscore that modernization is not confined to a single Western model and should not follow a ‘survival of the fittest’ mentality. Instead, while modernization possesses universal traits, it must be tailored to fit each country’s specific conditions and cultural context,” said Tang.
Wang said that China’s emphasis on inclusive and equitable modernization is actually beneficial to other countries as well, such as the United States, Europe and India.
“Many of China’s actions in Africa are not exclusionary but rather advocate for international cooperation. If you genuinely want to help Africa, you should work with us because China is the most efficient,” said Wang. He cited the Belt and Road Initiative as an example, noting that China, with its complete industrial chain, can execute these projects with the highest efficiency and lowest cost. Improving infrastructure in Africa, he added, is not only beneficial for attracting further investments from Western and developed nations but will also help Africa achieve the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and future targets.
“Therefore, frequently accusing China of creating a debt trap in Africa is not a sincere attempt to help Africa but rather a means to criticize China, which is a tragedy,” Wang said.
Ten partnership actions
In the 10 partnership actions proposed by Xi, China pledged wider market access, new financing assistance and more infrastructure, green energy, and “small but beautiful” livelihood-improving projects. China also promised to enhance military and security cooperation with African countries, including providing grants for military assistance and offering training for military personnel, police and law enforcement officers.
Tang noted that China-Africa cooperation has evolved from focusing primarily on large-scale infrastructure projects to now emphasizing a balance between these large projects and “small but beautiful” projects. This shift, he added, reflects an adaptation to changing times and evolving needs.
“Historically, infrastructure deficits have been a significant challenge for Africa’s development, and this situation is unlikely to change drastically in the short term, which remains a central focus of China-Africa cooperation. At the same time, with Africa’s sustained development, there is a growing demand for smaller, high-quality projects,” said Tang. He added that by advancing both projects in tandem, the cooperation will better promote Africa’s balanced and sustainable development.
Wang said that the notion that economic development depends on China while security maintenance relies on the U.S. represents a global paradox. As China-Africa ties grow stronger, Africa will inevitably need to collaborate with China on security matters.
“China’s security cooperation with Africa differs from the Western approach. It does not involve sending troops or interfering in internal affairs. Instead, China provides military equipment, military personnel training, while also assisting in enhancing their security capabilities, which is also a response to requests from African Union member states,” said Wang.