FOCAC meet to elevate China-Africa relations

The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, held in Beijing earlier this month, has reassured intensified bilateral collaboration across various sectors and will elevate China-Africa relations to new heights, South African experts say.

China's pledge, made at the summit, to jointly work with Africa to achieve modernization of the continent has been warmly welcomed and it aligns closely with the long-term vision of African countries, they said at a webinar hosted by the University of Johannesburg.

Sizo Nkala, a research fellow at the Centre for Africa-China Studies in Johannesburg, said the FOCAC summit has solidified the robust foundation of China-Africa relations. He dismissed concerns that economic challenges in China might weaken the partnership, countering speculation leading up to the summit.

"This year's summit was a reminder of how Africa-China relations are built on a strong foundation of FOCAC, which was laid more than 20 years ago," Nkala said.

Heads of state and government from 51 countries, along with presidential representatives from two additional nations, attended the summit — a level of participation not even matched by the United Nations General Assembly. This, as noted by Nkala, underscores the strong commitment of African nations in enhancing their cooperation with China.

At the summit, China pledged 360 billion yuan ($50.6 billion) in financial support to Africa over the next three years, marking a big increase from the 2021 FOCAC ministerial meeting in Dakar, Senegal.

Additionally, China outlined an extensive range of cooperative plans for the coming three years, focusing on enhancing governance exchanges, boosting bilateral trade and advancing projects in infrastructure, digital technology and green development.

Garth Shelton, a professor of international relations at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, said the relationship between China and Africa is dynamic and continuously evolves to reflect the signs of the times.

While the FOCAC meeting in Dakar focused on enhancing cooperation in the health sector because of the pandemic, this year's summit has demonstrated that both parties are elevating their collaboration to the next level, Shelton said.

China's commitment to sharing its economic model with Africa — beyond mere trade and infrastructure — shows a deeper mutual understanding, he said. Africa is in no way passive in its interaction with China, as the African Union Commission is a member of FOCAC and China's engagement with the continent aligns with the African Union's Agenda 2063.

Zhan Mengshu, a research fellow at the Centre for Africa-China Studies in Johannesburg, said this year's FOCAC summit highlighted China's readiness to work with Africa in building platforms for governance sharing.

It is through good governance that China has been able to grow its economy and alleviate poverty, Zhan said, adding its willingness to share this expertise with Africa shows a deep-seated understanding.

China's proposal to create a China-Africa knowledge network for development, establish 25 centers on China and Africa studies, and invite 1,000 members of African political parties to China for exchange, will deepen exchanges of experience in party and state governance, she said.

"Prior to this, China had helped establish the Walter Sisulu Leadership Academy and the OR Tambo School of Leadership in South Africa, as well as the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Tanzania, as a recognition that it is through good governance that Africa can fight corruption, conflicts and underdevelopment," she said.