Institutionalizing the cooperation
To guide and shape the ever growing interactions between China and Africa, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has been instituted and it became the main platform for China-Africa partnership since the year 2000. FOCAC is not a mere concept that defines one country as the only actor or organizer-in-chief in the process. In fact, it clearly implies a common journey of both African countries and China which takes their domestic and international resolves channeled towards a shared destiny with an incremental course of synergetic cooperation.
Under FOCAC, African countries are accessing to China’s accumulated industrial, technological and production capacity and financial resources. China plays a pivotal role in enhancing connectivity, infrastructure development and industrialization in Africa. Chinese investments are creating employment opportunities and contributing to Africa’s economic growth and also transfer knowledge, skill and technology. However, it must be noted that Africa gets about 5% of outbound Chinese investment and the trade between the two makes about 4% of Chinese trade volume.
Since its inception, FOCAC has proved to be an effective cooperation mechanism between Africa and China. The 6th FOCAC Summit held in South Africa in December 2015 clearly underlined the importance of FOCAC to pursue socio-economic and political interest of both Africa and China. The Johannesburg Action Plan for the period 2016-2018 that has articulated a comprehensive cooperation package between China and Africa, was given impetus by a pledge of USD 60 billion by President Xi Jinping at the Summit. This could be taken as concrete demonstration of strong commitment and partnership between the two parties.
In September 2018, in Beijing, FOCAC summit, another USD 60 billion was earmarked for the eight areas of cooperation: industrial promotion, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, green development, capacity building, health, people-to-people exchanges and peace and security. This political commitment of the Chinese leadership to the mutually beneficiary and strategic partnership with Africa for common growth and prosperity has created a rare historic opportunity in pursuing win-win and sustainable partnership.
The goals set forth in various declarations are priorities for Africa and hence reflect mutual interest. What is in progress is full implementation of the pledges made at the summit. To that effect, action plans have been worked out at the coordinators meeting in June 2018. China also takes an active interest in peace and security programs and missions in Africa and hence working together to realize peaceful, prosperous and integrated Africa, which are the key pillars of the 2063 African Agenda.
FOCAC is serving as a platform for dialogue, consultation and cooperation between China and African countries, and it has become a model of South-South cooperation. Nearly in two decades, China has become Africa’s biggest economic partner in trade, investment, infrastructure development, financing and development assistance. Currently, there is no other country with such depth and breadth of engagement in Africa as China is, as illustrated by recent studies. The concrete results of cooperation on the ground in Africa speak volumes for themselves.
Another milestone in China Africa partnership that will complement FOCAC is the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Given that the Belt and Road Initiative has its own vision and action plan, dedicated political arena, financial institutions and resources, it will not simply account for FOCAC achievements, but will reinforce and expand the scope and depth of cooperation. For African Belt and Road Initiative participating countries, it means that resources in addition to those under FOCAC become available under the Initiative. But perhaps more importantly, it also means that cooperation areas that are being promoted under the Initiative and FOCAC, such as industrialization and infrastructure will receive even stronger political support from China, which may help fast-track the implementation of projects in those areas.
As BRI is not limited to bilateral relations between China and African countries, but aims to connect Asia, Europe and Africa, African Belt and Road Initiative countries can benefit from new connections and expand cooperation with countries along the Maritime Silk Road in South Asia and South East Asia.
Let me be very clear here. Like any partnership, the China-Africa partnership was never spared from criticism, misperception and often times suffer from gross generalization and lack of evidence based approach. One should always bear in mind that when talking about successes or failures of such partnership, micro level analysis is important. Africa, however, continues to suffer from being treated as one single entity and generalization of this diverse and huge continent is bound to be misleading.
Let me also add that there is no country or region or continent that can afford avoiding China or Africa. As indicated above, it is obvious that Africa also has partnership with multiple countries and unions. But why is there too much of a deafening noise surrounding China-Africa relations? Are we running the risk of politicizing it or are we lacking balance and objectivity?
I believe, time has come to treat Africans as equal partners who can differentiate what is good and what is bad for them. The patronizing attitude by some who set patchy narratives about the partnership does not seem to be in good faith.
Do not get me wrong, I am not saying that this is a perfect partnership. No!! No partnership is perfect. Nor China Africa partnership is. The capacity to implement projects, lack of technological capability, issues related to good governance, trade imbalances, value addition, debt stress et cetera are challenges that are being addressed progressively in the framework of FOCAC. In all earnest, the solution is more cooperation and not less.
COVID-19 and China-Africa Cooperation
When COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan was made public, the African Union Commission (AUC), and many Africans leaders expressed their strong solidarity and support to the people and government China. All across, they also stated their trust and confidence in the measures put in place by the government of China to the protection and control of the virus and also believed in the determination, commitment and capability of China to defeat COVID19. Those who had the means also sent emergency medical equipment as a sign of friendship and solidarity.
Because of the stringent measures put in place and because of its elaborate and devoted execution of the policies and strategies, most importantly because of the unity of purpose displayed by the nation, China contained the virus in the shortest possible time than many expected. The effectiveness of the measures also yielded very positive results and mitigated the negative impact in social and economic aspects of the Chinese society. Now, China is steadily returning to normalcy and reopening the economy in orderly fashion.
As the spread of the virus situation greatly improved in China and as the spread of the virus began to be confirmed in Africa, China in return extended its support and solidarity to African countries. Two batches of medical supplies in the form of diagnostics kits and protective gears were donated to all African countries. No other country donated as much support to Africa as China did in these trying times. Understandably, many are looking inside and grappling with their own situation at the moment. Secondly, the medical equipment needed were mainly from China, as many countries suspended export and directed to internal use. Apart from the public donations, foundation like that of Jack Ma, donated three batches of the supplies badly needed by African countries as needs become dire in Africa. Many private and public sector enterprises which have investment and trade links with African countries carried out their corporate social responsibility in a very commendable way and they are continuing to do that. As the country where the outbreak was first observed, China has developed experiences and expertise in diagnosis, testing and treating COVIVD 19 and hence Chinese experts were in Africa to sharing their experiences.
The impact of COVID19 will go far bey ond health challenges. Its effect in social and economic sectors, unless contained effectively and shortly, will pose social unrest, instability and insecurity challenges. Therefore, China- Africa cooperation should not only focus on short term solutions and in addressing the immediate health concerns due to the pandemic. Joint efforts in searching for remedy and Post COVID19 economic recovery need be strategized.
The issue of debt relief and suspension within the agreed framework of G20 appears to be well under consideration. However, as Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) said in a recent piece he contributed to The New York Times, this is by no means sufficient to save the fragile African economies from collapse. In other words, the need for post-COVID-19 recovery and reconstruction plan is evidently clear. I also believe that it is time to adjust and prioritize some of the ongoing FOCAC programmes in consideration of the new situation dictated by the pandemic.
China has investments in Africa. The situation calls for more investment, financial, support and economic cooperation. Trade facilitation as one major pillar of If not, chances are that the investment made so far will be negatively impacted and both sides will incur losses. And for sure, that is not in the interest of both sides. That is why there is a need for more cooperation and engagement.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the China- Africa partnership is a mutually beneficiary endeavor. It is a work in progress and with strong commitment and determination, I have no doubt that it will be a model of success for South-South Cooperation. It is not a slogan, nor is it an empty talk as some allege but it is a concrete project delivering results and changing the living conditions of Africans. In order to overcome the challenges, more cooperation and not less is the solution.
*Author’s Profile and Disclaimer: Teshome Toga Chanaka is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the People’s Republic of China. The author contributed this article on his personal capacity. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the government and the organization that he represents.
The Ethiopian Herald May 23/2020
BY TESHOME TOGA CHANAKA
(AMBASSADOR) Part II
