A Platform That Benefits Africa

The Two Sessions offers a glimpse into China’s economic direction and, as a key partner of China, it is important for Africa to pay attention to and examine the outcomes of the meetings. At the meetings, the government delivers a work report that contains such vital economic priorities as the annual growth target and other major economic indicators, including the deficit-to-GDP ratio and inflation target. It also sets development priorities for the year.

The uniqueness of China’s political system lies in the fact that institutions function not only as the structural expression of broadly shared values within society, but also reflect the common consensus and aspirations for a better life for all, enabling both citizen participation and leaders’ responsibility and accountability. When institutions are based on broadly shared values, they become a potent force for national development.

The holding of the sessions demonstrates China’s home-grown initiative and wisdom to design, own, and uphold its institutions rooted in its own experience, national conditions, and social reality.

China’s political process is uniquely Chinese: It offers ample evidence that political institutions are not items on a shelf to be simply taken and transplanted elsewhere. The viability of any political institution and the processes that enable and sustain it are a direct result of a country’s own historical experience, national conditions, and social reality.

The all-weather partnership between China and Africa has prioritised economic cooperation, governance experience-sharing, and international cooperation. Vigorous mutual learning would help to uncover vital truths that would enrich each other’s perspectives in their respective endeavours for modernisation, especially in the new era.

The author is Director of Centre for China Studies, Abuja, Nigeria.