2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation – A brief analysis of a Big Event
Tazeen Akhtar
China Pakistan Monitoring Desk
China, in connection with her shared future and shared development with shared connectivity through Global Development, Global Security and Belt, Road Initiatives and infrastructural support, held the mega event with the the Heads of State, Government and Delegations of the People’s Republic of China and 53 African countries at 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The theme was “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.” President Xi Jinping pledged over $50 billion in financial support over the next 3 years for Africa in areas including infrastructure, agriculture, energy, education and other development projects. The summit will go a long way in elevating diplomatic relations to strategic level.
China-Africa infrastructure cooperation creating new opportunities for Africa’s Development
The Summit adopted by consensus the Beijing Declaration on Jointly Building an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era. President Xi Jinping and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal co-chaired the Summit .
FOCAC was shaped up 24 years ago when a new century of the new millenium was starting. Since then, China has been cooperating with Africa in construction of roads, railways, schools, hospitals, industrial parks, and special economic zones. These projects have changed the lives and destiny of many people. China Africa community consists of 2.8 billion people that means more than 1/4 of the world.
President Xi, Premier Li Qiang , Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other Chinese leaders held separate meetings with the African leaders and discussed the matters of bilateral cooperation in detail. First lady Peng Liyuan hosted the wives of the participating African leaders. She developed consensus on education of the children and empowerment of the women to move towards sustainable development.
President Xi Jinping
President Xi rightly mentioned that “China and Africa’s joint pursuit of modernization will set off a wave of modernization in the Global South”.
China is Africa’s largest trading partner and have helped build much-needed infrastructure in the continent. President Xi and China are true friends of Africa. Beijing’s ties are reaching new heights under his stewardship.
H.E. Xi Jinping extended a warm welcome to the guests and quoted a Chinese poem, “True friends always feel close to each other, no matter the distance between them.” He shared, “I have been to Africa 10 times and hosted many African leaders in China. All our meetings have been cordial and heartwarming.
He also proposed that bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the level of strategic relations.
“The China-Africa community with a shared future grows in step with the times. We maintained close cooperation and coordination on major international and regional issues. Together we have made the voice of the Global South stronger, Xi noted.
Pakistan in the World – Feb-March 2023
The joint declaration consists of 5 main points with basic purpose as under;
1- Jointly Building a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future
2- Fostering Synergy Between High-Quality Belt and Road Cooperation and the Goals of Agenda 2063 of the AU and the U.N. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
3- The GDI: Building a Strategic Framework for the Joint Action of China and Africa for Development
4- The GSI: Providing Strong Impetus for the Joint Action of China and Africa for Maintaining International Peace and Security
5- The GCI: Injecting Vitality into the Joint Action of China and Africa for Deepening Dialogue Among Cultures and Civilizations
The participants agreed on cooperation in China-Africa Environmental Cooperation Center, the China-Africa Marine Science and Blue Economy Cooperation Center and the China-Africa Geosciences Cooperation Center in promoting the implementation of projects such as the China-Africa Green Envoys Program, the China-Africa Green Innovation Program and the Africa Solar Belt Program.
African countries improve their energy mix and industrial structure, and develop green hydrogen and nuclear energy. China supports the operationalization of the AUDA-NEPAD Agency Center on Climate Resilience and Adaptation.
The African side welcomed the Shanghai Declaration on Global AI Governance adopted at the World AI Conference & High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance held in July 2024 in Shanghai and the African Consensus Declaration on Artificial Intelligence adopted at the High-Level Forum on Artificial Intelligence held in June 2024 in Rabat.
Ascent of Sino-African Relationship Continues, FM China
The relationship between China and Africa has been elevated to a higher level and bilateral cooperation has been boosted, demonstrating the unity and potential of Global South cooperation, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday.
China established or elevated its strategic partnerships with 30 African countries during the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, and such solid bilateral relations are the foundation for China-Africa friendship, Wang said at a news conference about the outcomes of the summit.
This demonstrates the firm resolve of the over 2.8 billion people from both sides as they march forward hand in hand amid unprecedented changes, he added.
China-Africa partnership main pillar of South-South cooperation: UN chief
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that China’s partnership with Africa is the main pillar of South-South cooperation. Guterres highlighted the partnership actions for modernization that were announced Thursday by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
China-Africa partnership can “drive the renewable energy revolution,” and be “a catalyst for key transitions in food systems and digital connectivity,” said Guterres, noting that Africa can maximize the potential of China’s support in areas from trade to data management, finance and technology.
“You can count on the full engagement of the United Nations in support of a strong China-Africa partnership, towards our shared goal of peace, sustainable development and human rights on a healthy planet,” he said.
President African Union
Xi Jinping appreciated President African Union Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani’s active contributions as rotating chair of the African Union to the preparations for the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and expressed China’s willingness to work closely with Mauritania to take the summit as an opportunity to pool the strength of the Chinese and African people, build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, increase the voice and representation of the Global South countries in global governance, and jointly uphold international fairness and justice.
10 Partnership action plans of China – in line with African Union Agenda 2063
The 10 partnership action plans proposed by President Xi in the next three years to jointly advance modernization, are all in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The 10 partnership action plans will cover the areas of mutual learning among civilizations, trade prosperity, industrial chain cooperation, connectivity, development cooperation, health, agriculture and livelihood, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, green development, and common security, Xi said.
“This summit reflects our shared desire for modernization, development and progress on the African continent,” said Ramaphosa.
Women Empowerment through Education
Spouses of leaders stressed the need to join hands for women’s empowerment through education. Speaking at a meeting on women’s education on the sidelines of the summit, Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi Jinping, said that empowering women with education is of great significance because education, knowledge and skills can give women the opportunity to better serve the country, stay in sync with society and embrace a happier life.
China and Africa will go further together on the path of facilitating women’s education and creating a better future.
Rachel Chebet Ruto, wife of Kenyan President William Ruto, said that education is the foundation of every form of empowerment, and especially so for women.We are particularly grateful to the Chinese government for its support.
Isaura Nyusi, wife of Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, said “With a more developed and modernized China, we have the large advantage of leapfrogging Africa’s development.”
Pakistan in the World – June/July 2024
What is China-Africa Cooperation
Railways. Ports. Industrial parks. Power stations. Infrastructure cooperation between China and Africa is thriving, and the outcome is changing the lives of millions, according to a report by Xinhua.
“To get rich, build roads first.” The popular Chinese proverb rings true in Africa. Drawing on its own development experience, China has been dedicated to working with Africa to build transport facilities crucial for economic development.
Chinese companies over the last quarter century have helped African countries build or upgrade more than 10,000 km of railways, nearly 100,000 km of highways, roughly 1,000 bridges, almost 100 ports and 66,000 km of power transmission and distribution.
Additionally, Chinese companies have helped build an installed power-generating capacity of 120 million kW, a communications backbone network of 150,000 km and a network service covering nearly 700 million user terminals.
Industrial Zones in Uganda, Egypt, Nigeria
Various industrial zones were built and are operated by Chinese enterprises, such as the Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park in Uganda, the Diamniadio International Industrial Platform in Senegal, the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Nigeria, and the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Egypt.
Through these zones, countries can participate more effectively in the global production chain and promote the internationalization of local brands.
Railway
In Kenya, the Chinese-funded Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway has drastically reduced travel time and emerged as the preferred choice for commuters, playing a pivotal role in reducing logistics costs, stimulating commerce and empowering smaller towns along its corridor.
Beijing Declaration on Jointly Building an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era
In Nigeria, the Abuja light rail, built by a Chinese company, started operating in May and has considerably eased congestion in the capital.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu described the light rail’s operation as the “fruit of collaboration, dedication, progress, and foresightedness.”
Clean Energy
In Kenya, the 55 megawatt Garissa Solar Power Plant, financed and constructed by Chinese firms, generates over 76 million kilowatt-hours annually, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 64,000 tons annually.
Kenya has moved closer to achieving its clean energy transition goals with the power plant, said Moses Masika Wetangula, speaker of Kenya’s National Assembly.
In South Africa, De Aar Wind Farm has changed energy landscape. As the first wind power project financed, constructed and operated by a Chinese company in Africa, it supplies 760 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, meeting the electricity needs of 300,000 households.
Port Cooperation
Kribi Deep Sea Port, built by China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC) in Cameroon’s southern town of Kribi. The new seaport, strategically positioned in the center of the Gulf of Guinea, has stimulated the country’s economy and has become a regional hub for the African Atlantic coast. Cameroon has once again placed herself as the port entry to the sub-region. This (port) has added more value to certain industrial projects in Chad, the Central African Republic and Congo.
In 2023, Tanzania’s first modern fishing harbor, Kilwa Harbor, also constructed by CHEC, was launched. As a flagship project under the Tanzanian government’s third five-year plan, it is expected to become an engine for economic growth.
(Conclusion )
Cooperation between China and Africa in the new era provides a path to mutual development, creating a stronger foundation for a closer China-Africa community with a shared future.
Congo is the co-chair of FOCAC from 2024 to 2027 and Equatorial Guinea is the co-chair from 2027 to 2030. The 10th FOCAC Ministerial Conference will be held in the Republic of the Congo in 2027.
Pakistan in the World – July / Aug 2024
