Beijing Summit set to be new marker for historical achievements of the FOCAC: China Daily editorial

While some Western countries try to throw a wrench into the works by raising concerns about governance standards, transparency, debt sustainability and the environmental impact related to Chinese investments in Africa, China and the majority of African nations regard their relations as being cooperative, supportive and mutually beneficial.

For China, Africa is a significant development partner, due to its resources, markets, economic opportunities and investment potential, and its engagement with African countries is a prime example of South-South cooperation, which emphasizes solidarity among developing nations in the face of Western exploitation and suppression.

For most African countries, China is a valued partner providing trade opportunities, investments in infrastructure and diversification of support for their development efforts beyond the traditional ex-colonial powers, whose assistance is often conditional and exploitative.

Established in 2000, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has become a significant driver of China-Africa ties. A platform for collective dialogue between China and African countries, the FOCAC has helped the two sides strengthen cooperation in a wide range of areas, including trade, investment, infrastructure development, industrialization, agriculture, health, education and cultural exchanges.

The FOCAC has spurred a growth in bilateral trade volumes. While Chinese investments in infrastructure projects, such as roads, railways, ports and energy facilities, have helped boost economic development in many African countries.

Statistics show China has remained Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, with bilateral trade reaching a record $282.1 billion in 2023. And by the end of that year, China's stock of direct investment in Africa had exceeded $40 billion.

The FOCAC has also promoted capacity building in Africa through cooperation in areas such as education, healthcare and the development of human resources. China has provided scholarships for African students to study in Chinese universities and supported training programs for African professionals in various fields.

The meeting, being held in Beijing from Wednesday to Friday, will be the fourth time that the FOCAC has been held in the form of a summit, and with the leaders and representatives of over 50 African countries, as well as representatives from African regional organizations and international organizations attending to explore the theme "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future", it is regarded by both sides as an opportunity for them to consolidate their friendship, deepen practical cooperation and strike a strong note in advancing cooperation among Global South nations.

It is expected that the top Chinese leader will elaborate on new ideas and propositions for advancing China-Africa ties and announce new actions and measures for China's practical cooperation with Africa in the keynote speech he will deliver at the opening ceremony.

And the participating leaders are expected to adopt two outcome documents, a Declaration and an Action Plan, that will set the tone for implementing high-quality China-Africa cooperation over the next three years. They will also participate in four meetings focusing on state governance, industrialization and agricultural modernization, peace and security, and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

When it comes to refuting the Western smearing of China's cooperation with the continent, nothing is a better rebuttal than the continuous and solid progress that has been made in improving African people's livelihoods and well-being. While the allegations that loans provided by China for infrastructure projects that might not be economically viable and could lead to debt distress for some African countries have been shown to be politically motivated, as the data show that the debts of African countries are mainly owed to private sector creditors in the West, who charge African countries high interest rates.

In an increasingly turbulent world, afflicted with crises and challenges, the solidarity and strong cooperation momentum between China and African countries can not only help instill certainty and confidence in the world, but also provide some solutions to help address the deficits in global development, governance and trust. No wonder the 2024 FOCAC Summit has drawn worldwide attention.