China-Africa Cooperation Defies Western Critics and Narratives

Trefor Moss, writing in The Diplomat in 2013, observed: “China has little attractive power — in the West. But then not everyone is watching China through Western eyes.”

This statement rings true especially in Africa, where China is viewed much more favorably than in the West. Aboubaker Omar Hadi, chairman of Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority, said he prefers working with the Chinese because “they have a different attitude … they believe in Africa.” Why do African countries remain interested in cooperating with China? Beyond their shared history and common goals, China and Africa have been drawn closer by, among others, the development path of Chinese modernization, which China has blazed on its own and which holds significant appeal for African countries.

A successful development model presupposes a strong, value-driven identity that can inspire social and political behavior at home while also extending its successful practices beyond national borders. China’s economic success is prompting a global reassessment of whether Western-style democracy or China’s professional governance model better drives development. Developing countries obviously see China as an attractive economic partner. Yet China’s appeal goes beyond economics, encompassing values and worldviews.

As a result, China’s development experience is sparking a global debate about what drives national growth. This includes examining links between property rights and economic growth, the rule of law and the market economy, the free flow of currency and economic order, and most importantly, democracy and development. These norms and values, as more and more people around the world have come to believe, should not be dictated solely by Western powers but should instead be more open, flexible, and adaptable to different contexts.

The Chinese model shows how social, cultural and political factors are deeply embedded in relations between the state, market, and society. This “norm diffusion” from China isn’t about adopting specific Chinese values. Instead, China serves as an example of “finding your own way” and “doing it your own way.”

The “Chinese model,” defined by a commitment to national self-determination, a strong role for the ruling party and the state, gradual reform and innovation to drive economic growth, and a policy of international non-intervention, is reshaping the global development landscape. China’s rise as an alternative aid donor, investor and economic partner has boosted its soft power in the Global South. China’s practice of attaching no political conditions to its aid in Africa highlights Beijing’s soft power, reflecting a policy of non-interference that respects other countries’ sovereignty, economic systems, governance structures and political cultures.

The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will be held from Sept. 4-6 in Beijing, with the theme “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.” The FOCAC, established over 20 years ago, has significantly improved cooperation between China and African nations. In 2015, the FOCAC Johannesburg Summit decided to build a China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership and proposed 10 major cooperation plans. These were followed by eight major initiatives in 2018 and nine programs in 2021, covering sectors like industry, agriculture, trade, infrastructure, finance, poverty reduction, people-to-people exchanges, peace, and sustainable development. So far, 52 African countries have joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, as China-Africa cooperation deepens, some Western observers and policymakers have criticized these relations, accusing China of “neo-colonialism,” “neo-imperialism,” or attempting to create a “debt trap.”

Africa, a key BRI partner, still lacks the basic infrastructure needed to connect its various countries and regions, as well as cities and settlements within those countries. The BRI focuses on improving such connectivity. Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), stated that despite some progress, “Africa still faces serious infrastructure shortcomings across all sectors, both in terms of access and quality.” Africa needs to advance national and regional integration by improving infrastructure. Drawing on its own experience, China believes that “if you want to get rich, you must build roads first.” Understanding Africa’s current situation, China is willing to assist them on the basis of mutual benefit, without political strings attached. The success of Nigeria’s railway construction is a good example. In contrast to colonialism, the primary appeal of China-Africa cooperation lies in its emphasis on mutual benefit and collaboration, inspired by the Chinese experience.

Challenging claims of a “debt trap,” African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina stated, “China is not trying to lead African countries into a debt trap, instead, it is providing critical investment along with other countries to close a funding gap for crucial infrastructure projects on the continent.” The World Bank’s 2023 International Debt Report shows China holds 11% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s public and publicly guaranteed debt. In contrast, multilateral lenders, including the World Bank and IMF, account for 38%. Private creditors, such as bondholders, hold 42%. Therefore, it is absurd to claim that China has led African countries into a “debt trap.” China has consistently prioritized addressing debt issues in Africa, including signing debt relief agreements and forgiving partial debts. However, the key to resolving these challenges lies in development. When African countries can build their independent development capacities and achieve sustainable growth, all the other problems will become much less significant.

In addition to infrastructure investment, Deborah Brautigam, a long-time observer of Africa-China relations, has documented Chinese soft power investment in Africa. She shows that Africans generally welcome China’s development approach. Many Africans value the long-standing connections built with Chinese partners over decades. Brautigam notes that Africans perceive China as showing more understanding, sympathy, and respect than Western countries, which are often seen as paternalistic. Most importantly, Africans believe they can achieve development and prosperity by learning from China’s experiences.

Kenneth King, who has studied Africa for 30 years, focuses on China’s specific soft power strength in Africa: educational projects. He pointed out that Chinese language teaching is rapidly expanding across Africa. China offers thousands of scholarships to young Africans to study at Chinese universities, along with professional training programs for African business people. These efforts aim to show Africans how China operates, rather than dictate how Africans should do. China’s long-standing medical teams and health diplomacy are also generating positive socio-political effects in Africa.

As a fellow member of the Global South, China remains a steadfast supporter of Africa. Despite biased narratives from Western media and ongoing challenges, regular FOCAC summits provide a vital platform for strengthening both bilateral and multilateral dialogues, thereby maintaining the China-Africa partnership. The true effectiveness of this cooperation is reflected in the attitudes of African nations and their people. The upcoming FOCAC summit will be an important opportunity to gauge the commitment and enthusiasm of both China and African nations regarding their collaboration and partnership.

Li Xing is a Yunshan Leading Scholar and professor at Guangdong Institute for International  Strategies, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. He is also an adjunct professor of international relations at Aalborg University, Denmark.

Li Yichao is an assistant research fellow at Zhejiang Normal University’s Institute of African Studies in China.