CHINESE President Xi Jinping says there is need to strengthen the relationship between China and Africa for a resilient future.
Speaking At the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summit of The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (Focac) 2024, Xi underscored the deep, historical friendship between China and African countries.
Celebrating nearly 70 years of diplomatic relations, Xi emphasised the need to elevate these ties into a strategic partnership, crafting a vision for a resilient future together.
In his speech, he highlighted the importance of the forum, established in 2000, as a significant milestone in fostering cooperation.
“Over the past 24 years, especially in the new era, China has advanced forward hand in hand with our African brothers and sisters in the spirit of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith,” Xi said.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with each other to firmly defend our legitimate rights and interests as once-in-a-century changes sweep across the world.
“We get stronger and more resilient together by riding the tide of economic globalization, delivering tangible benefits to billions of ordinary Chinese and Africans.”
He stated that the relationship between China and Africa has reached an unprecedented level, characterised by mutual respect and shared interests.
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As the two regions confront global challenges, Xi said he hoped that their collaboration can serve as a model for a new type of international relations.
The Chinese leader laid out a comprehensive plan for collaboration over the next three years, introducing ten actionable partnership initiatives designed to improve trade, infrastructure, health, and education among numerous other sectors.
“Without our modernisation, there will be no global modernization,” he declared, emphasizing that the joint efforts of over 2.8 billion Chinese and Africans would shape the path to collective progress,” he said.
“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.
“We should jointly advance modernisation that is just and equitable.
“In promoting modernization, we should not only follow the general rules, but also act in light of our national realities.”
Among the initiatives, Xi proposed increasing trade by implementing zero tariffs for least developed countries (LDCs) with diplomatic ties to China.
This move is expected to significantly boost Africa’s access to Chinese markets, providing a platform for economic growth.
“China will voluntarily and unilaterally open its market wider, we have decided to give all LDCs having diplomatic relations with China, including 33 countries in Africa, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines.
“This has made China the first major developing country and the first major economy to take such a step.”
Xi also pledged to enhance industrial cooperation, focusing on technology and digital innovations that align with Africa’s modernisation goals.
Further, the partnership actions include substantial investments in health and agriculture.
An emergency food assistance package worth RMB 1 billion was introduced to support African nations, alongside plans to send thousands of medical personnel and agricultural experts.
He emphasised that fulfilling basic needs in health and food security would be pivotal in easing poverty and improving living standards across the continent.
Xi also noted the necessity of green development, pledging 30 clean energy projects to help Africa transition towards sustainable energy sources, underscoring China’s commitment to combating climate change in collaboration with its African partners.
“China is ready to launch 30 clean energy projects in Africa, put in place meteorological early warning systems, and carry out cooperation in disaster prevention, mitigation and relief as well as biodiversity conservation,” he added.
“We will create a China-Africa forum on peaceful use of nuclear technology, establish together 30 joint laboratories, and collaborate on satellite remote sensing and lunar and deep-space exploration.”
Reflecting on the profound cultural connections between the regions, Xi proposed enhancing people-to-people exchanges, education, and vocational training, aiming to foster deeper understanding and cooperation between China and Africa.
As the summit unfolded, the theme of unity resonated throughout.
“No one, and no country, should be left behind,” Xi stated, envisioning a collaborative path towards modernisation that enshrines equality and shared prosperity.
The ambitious agenda, supported by RMB 360 billion in financial resources from China, represents a significant investment in the future of China-Africa relations and positions both regions for a transformative journey in the years ahead.
With the spotlight on China and Africa's intertwined futures, this summit is poised to be a turning point, promising to deepen partnerships that could redefine development not just within these regions, but throughout the Global South.
