In the last few years, there have been various platforms devised to deepen ties and strengthen cooperation with the African states. At the heart of such platforms, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which was established in 2000 as a multi-faceted partnership platform between China and the African states to forge strong relationships in numerous areas, is the one.
In fact, since the past three or more decades, the China-Africa relationship and cooperation have been growing steadily and is peaking to the highest level.
Over the years, China’s engagement in African countries has expanded across various sectors including trade, investment, FDI, infrastructure development, financing development projects of the latter, education, and the like areas targeting to meet the needs of the two countries under the principle of cooperation and development.
China has always been the leading partner in Africa’s growth and development aspirations. Unlike other countries in the world, it has always been at the frontline in and still is in terms of backing African countries to achieve their growth aspirations and development ambitions. Ranging from infrastructure development to trade facilitation, from capacity building to healthcare and education intervention as well as increasing capital flows to the continent, the role of China in the continent’s development is wide-ranging.
It is possible to say that most of the mega projects that were planned and implemented by Africans were directly or indirectly backed by the Chinese government.
The initiatives devised by the Chinese Government to break Africa’s development bottlenecks and facilitate trade and economic integration through improving infrastructure connectivity across Africa such as China’s Belt and Road Initiative, is also altering the continent’s future prospective by offering new developmental options.
China’s development-oriented cooperation and collaboration with the African countries in a manner prioritizing own interests and mutual benefits, and respecting countries’ sovereignty has brought about a paradigm shift in international cooperation and transformed the continent’s image in the global order.
It is clear that Africa, with its gigantic landmass, untapped vast natural resources, young, energetic, and productive demography, coupled with its growth prospect, has a lot to offer to the world. The continent can also be a reliable trade partner, an unwavering alliance for peace-building. Thus, the continent should no longer be seen as a junior.
In reality, Africa has a lesson to draw from China’s steadfast growth- how the country has lifted its largest population estimated to be 700 million out of poverty in times of between three to four decades.
Currently, the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which is one of the Chinese development initiatives for Africa, is ongoing in Beijing, China in the presence of many African leaders and members of FOCAC. This year’s summit is expected to discuss on the implementation of Africa’s development blueprint – Agenda 2023; which has an ambition to accelerate Africa’s journey towards a prosperous future. To this effect, Africa needs a concrete plan that brings tangible outcomes for the continent instead of mere promises. In this regard, FOCAC can be an important platform for China and African countries to renew their commitment to work for a common goal.
Equally, it initiates other countries, especially those with giant economies, to reinforce cooperation and partnership with African nations to help them realize their development targets to create a more just and equitable world order.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2024
