By Biran Gaye
Photo: President Faye and Jinping waving a crowd during the FOCAC @ Credit@ Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples’ Republic of China
China will work with Africa to pursue modernization through a win-win partnership that promotes economic globalization and delivers tangible benefits to ordinary Chinese and Africans, the president of the Peoples’ Republic of China says.
In his opening address of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) currently underway in Beijing, China, President Xi jinping proposes that bilateral relations between China and its African allies be elevated to the level of strategic relations with a shared future for the new era.
The event brought together African Heads of State and Government, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Chairperson of the AU Commission and representatives of governments and international organisations.
“China and Africa’s joint pursuit of modernization will set off a wave of modernization in the Global South and open a new chapter in our drive for a community with a shared future for mankind,” he says.
Through modernization, the Communist Party leader said China will work vigorously with Africa by promoting full development of human beings through personnel training, poverty reduction and employment for the benefit of all.
“China is ready to deepen cooperation with Africa in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment, promote exemplary, high-quality Belt and Road cooperation projects, and build together a model for the delivery of the Global Development Initiative,” he vows.
“We should jointly advance modernization that is eco-friendly. Green development is a hallmark of modernization in the new era. China is ready to help Africa build “green growth engines,” narrow the gap in energy accessibility, adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and jointly push for the global transition to green and low-carbon development.”
Denouncing the immense suffering on developing countries inflicted by the Western approach to modernization, President Jinping said China and African countries have achieved independence and development and have been endeavoring to redress the historical injustices of the modernization process since the end of World War II. He noted that Africa is also awakening again, and the continent is marching in solid strides toward the modernization goals set forth in the AU’s Agenda 2063, which aligns with China’s rejuvenation goals.
Ten-partnership action for modernization
China and Africa set out ten partnership actions to deepen the Global South cooperation through modernization for the achievement of shared goals in the next three years.
Through mutual learning among civilizations, China and Africa intend to build a platform for governance experience sharing, a China-Africa knowledge network for development, and 25 centers on China and Africa studies.
“We will make better use of Africa’s leadership academies to cultivate talents for governance and invite 1,000 members of African political parties to China to deepen exchanges of experience in party and state governance,” Jinping says.
They also set about promoting trading as China unilaterally opens up its market wider as well as enter into framework agreements on economic partnership for shared development with African countries to provide long-term, stable and predictable institutional guarantee for trade and investment between the two sides.
“We have decided to give all LDCs that have diplomatic relations with China, including 33 countries in Africa, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines,” he says. “It will help turn China’s big market into Africa’s big opportunity. China will expand market access for African agricultural products, deepen cooperation with Africa in e-commerce and other areas, and launch a ‘China-Africa quality enhancement program’.”
With the Industrial Chain Cooperation plan, China will foster industry cooperation growth clusters with Africa, push forward the Pilot Zone for In-depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation, and launch an “African SMEs empowerment program.”
“We will build with Africa a digital technology cooperation center and initiate 20 digital demonstration projects so as to embrace together the latest round of technological revolution and industrial transformation,” President Xi Jinping said.
Through the Partnership Action for Connectivity, China is prepared to carry out 30 infrastructure connectivity projects in Africa, promote together high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and put in place a China-Africa network featuring land-sea links and coordinated development.
“We are ready to assist in the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area and deepen logistics and financial cooperation for the benefit of trans-regional development in Africa,” he reveals.
China, through the Partnership Action for Development Cooperation, is ready to deepening cooperation within the Framework of the Global Development Initiative with Africa and implement 1,000 “small and beautiful” livelihood projects, according to the Chinese government.
“We will replenish the China-World Bank Group Partnership Facility to boost Africa’s development. We support Africa in hosting the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. We will work together with Africa to deliver more fruits of development to the two peoples,” the communist leader said.
Through the health partnership, China is ready to establish with Africa a hospital alliance and joint medical centers.
“We will send 2,000 medical personnel to Africa and launch 20 programs for health facilities and malaria treatment,” he reveals. “We will encourage Chinese companies to invest in Africa’s pharmaceutical production, and continue to do what we can to help Africa with epidemic response. We support the development of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to strengthen public health capacity in all African countries.”
President Jinping told the forum that through the Partnership Action for Agriculture and Livelihoods, China will provide Africa with RMB1 billion yuan ($140 million) in emergency food assistance, build 100,000 mu (about 6,670 hectares) of standardized agriculture demonstration areas in Africa, send 500 agricultural experts, and establish a China-Africa agricultural science and technology innovation alliance.
“We will implement 500 programs in Africa to promote community welfare. We will also encourage two-way investment for new business operations by Chinese and African companies, enable Africa to retain added value, and create at least one million jobs for Africa,” he told African heads of state and government.
Through the People-to-People Exchanges agenda, President Jinping says China will implement with Africa more solidly the Future of Africa – Vocational Education Cooperation Plan, establish together an engineering technology academy, and build ten Luban Workshops.
“We will provide 60,000 training opportunities to Africa, mainly for women and youths. We will launch with Africa a Cultural Silk Road program as well as an initiative of cooperation on innovation in radio, TV and audio and visual programs. The two sides have agreed to designate 2026 as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges,” he explains.
With the Partnership Action for Green Development, China is ready to launch 30 clean energy projects in Africa, put in place meteorological early warning systems, and cooperate in disaster prevention, mitigation and relief, as well as biodiversity conservation, the communist leader told participants.
“We will create a China-Africa forum on the peaceful use of nuclear technology, establish together 30 joint laboratories, and collaborate on satellite remote sensing and lunar and deep-space exploration. All this is designed to help with green development in Africa,” he added.
The Partnership Action for Common Security, Mr Jinping said, seeks to build with Africa a partnership for implementing the GSI, and make it a fine example of GSI cooperation.
“We will give Africa RMB1 billion yuan of grants in military assistance, provide training for 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 police and law enforcement officers from Africa, and invite 500 young African military officers to visit China,” he says.
Under this arrangement, the two sides will conduct joint military exercises, training and patrol, carryout an “action for a mine-free Africa,” and jointly ensure the safety of personnel and projects.
