Upcoming China-Africa Summit Set to Deepen Ties

Beijing is set to host the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) from Sept. 4-6.

Since its inception in 2000, FOCAC has become the primary platform for China-Africa economic, diplomatic and political partnerships. Unlike other ad hoc initiatives, it was institutionalized from the outset with a clear operating structure and a robust monitoring mechanism. This ensures the implementation of all policies and measures agreed upon at the forum and the accomplishment of its objectives: equal consultation, enhanced understanding, expanded consensus, strengthened friendship and promoted cooperation.

China’s Africa policy is guided by the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence – mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence. These principles are considered in Africa as key elements to create a peaceful and prosperous world and they continue to be the centerpiece of the China-Africa relationship. This, alongside Beijing’s clean slate regarding colonization of any state or region, in contrast to the West’s colonial past, has made China Africa’s most trusted development and trade partner.

The African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 outlines seven aspirations to realize its vision of a peaceful and growing Africa. Several of these aspirations align with China’s foreign policy, including shared prosperity, dialogue-centered conflict resolution, African unity against external interference, and Africa’s role as a global partner. This alignment suggests compatibility between Chinese and African approaches.

Beijing’s relations with the continent have also blossomed over the decades through various mechanisms, especially FOCAC, which seeks to deepen trade, investment, infrastructure and economic cooperation with Africa. This contrasts with past Western perceptions of the continent and, in particular, U.S. efforts to influence and bully African nations.

At the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC in 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced plans to import $300 billion worth of products from Africa in the next three years. With imports of $117.5 billion in 2022, $109 billion in 2023, and $69.1 billion in the first seven months of 2024, China has almost met its promise ahead of schedule.

China has agreed to participate in developing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and support its secretariat. Africa’s welcome of Chinese involvement demonstrates Beijing’s commitment to the continent, as the agreement aims to foster industrialization, create jobs, attract investment and lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty — areas where Africa can learn from China’s experience.

As reported, Beijing has helped Africa build and upgrade more than 10,000 kilometers of railways, construct nearly 100,000 km of highways and lay over 60,000 km of submarine cables. It has also built nearly 1,000 bridges, 100 ports and over 100 health facilities and schools across Africa under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Accusations that China is reducing infrastructure projects or creating dependence through the BRI are misleading. African leaders themselves have rebuffed such false narratives. For instance, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said last year that the BRI had led to new road, rail, port and energy investments across the continent, generating jobs, improving regional connectivity and promoting innovation.

While others merely talked about investment, China actually poured investment into Africa without moral lecturing. “Perhaps China was more audacious, perhaps they have more vision and perhaps they trusted the potential in Africa,” said Moussa Faki, chairperson of the AU Commission, at the G20 Compact with Africa summit in November last year.

At the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, President Xi revealed plans for numerous signature projects and “small yet smart” people-centered programs. He announced that the China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China would set up a 350-billion-yuan ($49 billion) financing window and inject an additional 80 billion yuan into the Silk Road Fund.

This, along with promoting green development in infrastructure, energy and transportation, will benefit Africa, powering its green growth and bolstering its capacity to fight poverty and climate change — key priorities within FOCAC.

Four in five people of the world’s 675 million living without electricity are from Sub-Saharan Africa. Hundreds of China’s renewable energy projects, including Morocco’s NOOR II and NOOR III solar power projects, Egypt’s 500-megawatt Gulf of Suez II wind farm and Kenya’s Garissa solar power plant, are helping Africa address its energy and climate crises. FOCAC plays a critical role in building a climate-resilient African green economy.

Africa has a keen interest in industrialization. As the continent’s integration has gradually deepened, several African governments asked China to consider focusing on their industrialization in recent years. In response, President Xi, last year at the China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue, announced three major programs: the Initiative on Supporting Africa’s Industrialization, the Plan for China Supporting Africa’s Agricultural Modernization and the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development. These aim to support Africa’s industrialization, upgrade its agriculture sector and boost innovation.

China’s efforts aim to boost Africa’s independence and economic growth, reflecting its continued commitment to the continent’s development. This is evident in the trade of intermediate goods, which are crucial for Africa’s industrialization and diversification and account for nearly 68% of China-Africa trade.

Following Xi’s pledge to open “green lanes” for Africa and support the continent’s agricultural modernization, China has become the largest export market for African agricultural products. While the U.S. and other Western nations maintain high tariffs on African farm produce, China has held economic and trade expos to promote African imports. These include Ethiopian coffee, Kenyan avocados and flowers, as well as Madagascar’s essential oils, marking a significant shift in African agricultural exports and bilateral relations.

A recent example of cooperation is the China-Africa Forum on Digital Cooperation, culminating in the Action Plan for China-Africa Digital Cooperation and Development. The forum provided a platform to share experiences in digital and information communication technology, potentially advancing African economies’ digital transformation. It could strengthen China-Africa ties in areas such as e-commerce, digital infrastructure, security, 5G and 6G technology, artificial intelligence and e-governance.

FOCAC has evolved from a multilateral coordination mechanism into a model of South-South cooperation. Over the years, it has addressed challenges through collective consultation and strategic understanding. An African proverb aptly describes this relationship: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” The upcoming FOCAC summit aims to reinforce bilateral friendship and further develop a China-Africa community with a shared future. Its success will not only benefit China and Africa, but also the world as a whole.

Azhar Azam is a geopolitical analyst with a keen interest in the economy, climate change and regional conflicts.