On Thursday, September 5, 2024, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced the successful conclusion of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (9th FOCAC 2024 Summit). Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, emphasized the importance of the summit during a press conference with Senegalese Foreign Minister Yacine Fall and Republic of Congo Foreign Minister Jean-Claude Gakosso.
Following the summit, Wang stated that ties between China and all African countries that have diplomatic relations with China have been elevated to the level of strategic relations.[i] Relations between China and African countries have moved forward in the new era of FOCAC, with deepening diplomatic, economic and social ties. This cooperation has a significant impact not only on political relations, but also on achieving the goals of global modernization and sustainable development.
Following the FOCAC Summit, Chinese Premier Li Qiang called on China and Africa to deepen economic and trade cooperation. Speaking at the opening of the Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs in Beijing on Friday, 6 September 2024, Li said that economic cooperation is the foundation of bilateral relations and has made important contributions to the modernization process. In this regard, he announced that China will expand market access to the least developed African countries and create a green channel for agricultural exports.[ii] Li also emphasized the need to promote industrial integration and said that China will cooperate more closely with Africa in stabilizing global industrial and supply chains. He underlined the need to increase innovation-oriented cooperation with Africa in areas such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence and new energy.
Wang and Li noted that China-Africa relations have risen to the level of a strategic partnership, and that this new level is a critical milestone in building a China-Africa community with a shared future in all circumstances. In this context, the 10 partnership actions announced to support the modernization process put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping include concrete steps to strengthen cooperation with Africa. The principles of “multilateralism” and “mutual support”, which have been identified as the core of China-Africa relations, underpin this strategic cooperation and envisage the construction of a cooperation mechanism based on the principles of fairness and equality, while opposing prejudice.[iii]
As the cornerstone of China-Africa relations, economic and trade cooperation plays a critical role in achieving the development goals of both sides. Figures released at the FOCAC Summit show that China’s trade volume with Africa has increased 26-fold, from $10.5 billion in 2000 to $282.1 billion in 2023. This dramatic increase reflects the deepening of Chinese investment in Africa and the strengthening of economic ties between the two regions. The stock of direct investment in Africa has exceeded $40 billion, while infrastructure investments include the construction of 100,000 kilometers of roads, 10,000 kilometers of railways, 1,000 bridges and hundreds of ports. These projects have increased connectivity across the African continent and contributed to more efficient trade and transportation.
China’s cooperation with Africa is deepening not only in the economic sphere, but also in areas such as health, agriculture, education and digital technology. Especially in the agricultural sector, China’s transfer of technology and knowledge has increased agricultural productivity in Africa and made significant contributions to local farmers. The cumulative value of China’s investments in agricultural cooperation has exceeded USD 1 billion, and these investments have become a key element of agricultural development in Africa.
China’s plans to bring 30 infrastructure projects to Africa, send 2,000 medical personnel to the health sector, and launch 20 health programs point to the people-oriented dimension of cooperation between the two sides. As Xi said at the FOCAC Summit, “No one should be left behind in the process of modernization.” This statement underlines China’s support for a shared vision of development with the countries of the Global South and emphasizes that modernization should not be limited to developed countries.[iv]
In particular, projects such as the Mombasa-Nairobi and Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway lines have accelerated trade and increased access to international markets. China’s efforts to modernize Africa’s infrastructure through such projects also contribute to promoting sustainable development in the Global South.
FOCAC’s contributions in the field of education are also noteworthy. Education also plays an important role in China-Africa cooperation. Girls’ education in particular remains a challenging issue on the African continent. According to UNESCO data, the completion rate of secondary education for girls in Sub-Saharan Africa is 47%, while the rate at the high school level is 27%. China’s support for girls’ education aims to increase educational opportunities in Africa. These initiatives, led by Peng Liyuan, demonstrate that China-Africa cooperation also takes social development into account.[v]
Recent developments in China-Africa relations point to the emergence of a new model of cooperation at the global level. The FOCAC 2024 Summit demonstrated the elevation of these relations to the level of strategic partnership and the commitment of both sides to a shared future in the modernization process. Partnerships ranging from economic and trade cooperation to infrastructure projects, from agriculture and healthcare to education and cultural exchanges, contribute both to the achievement of Africa’s development goals and to strengthening China’s position in the global arena.
China’s investments and cooperation projects in Africa have a direct impact on the continent’s economic growth and social welfare. Infrastructure projects facilitate the integration of African countries into international markets by improving trade and transportation networks, while support in the fields of agriculture and health enables the improvement of human resources and quality of life. Cooperation in the field of education, especially girls’ education, stands out as a critical element supporting social transformation in the long term.
This deepening cooperation between China and Africa is an important example of solidarity and development efforts in the Global South. Based on mutual respect and win-win principles, these relations contribute to the search for justice and equality in the international system. The principle that no one should be left behind in the process of modernization underlines the people-centered approach of this partnership.
Looking to the future, it is clear that China-Africa relations will further strengthen and move forward together on the path of modernization. Cooperation in next-generation technologies such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence and green energy will make both sides more resilient to global challenges. This strategic partnership has the potential to contribute to the peace, stability and prosperity of not only the two regions but also the global community. In conclusion, China-Africa cooperation can be considered as a harbinger of a new paradigm in international relations. These relations, which have risen to the level of strategic partnership, serve as an exemplary model for achieving modernization and development goals and serve the ideal of building a community with a common future for humanity.
[i] “Chinese FM says 2024 FOCAC summit achieves ‘complete success’”, CGTN, https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-09-06/Chinese-FM-says-2024-FOCAC-summit-achieves-complete-success–1wFnqJKpwRO/p.html, (Date of Access: 06.09.2024).
[ii]“Chinese premier urges higher-level China-Africa economic, trade cooperation”, CGTN, https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-09-06/Li-Qiang-urges-higher-level-China-Africa-economic-trade-cooperation-1wFVlCcpbws/p.html, (Date of Access: 06.09.2024).
[iii] “Joint pursuit of modernization: China, Africa eye new chapter in building a community with a shared future”, CGTN, https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-09-05/China-Africa-eye-new-chapter-in-building-community-with-shared-future-1wDYAx3CGLm/p.html, (Date of Access: 06.09.2024).
[iv] Ibid.
[v] “Empowering women with education: a shared goal of China, Africa”, CGTN, https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-09-06/Empowering-women-with-education-a-shared-goal-of-China-Africa-1wDNdKzk7GE/p.html, (Date of Access: 06.09.2024).