Sino-African ties to be further strengthened

While the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has greatly impacted the China-Africa relationship since its establishment 24 years ago, becoming a key platform for collective dialogue and an effective mechanism for practical cooperation between the two parties, experts believe there is more room to further strengthen the ties.

The experts expressed the need for improvement in people-to-people exchanges, trade and technology transfer among others.

Maria Nzomo, professor of international relations, diplomacy and governance at the University of Nairobi, said technological transfer could help Africa industrialize and increase manufactured goods for export.

Social-cultural exchanges between China and Africa should be increased to enhance people-to-people exchanges, Nzomo said.

She said China's collective level dealing with Africa should not end at the FOCAC summit. Instead, discussions should continue to make sure both China and African countries collectively come up with action plans to ensure impactful projects are implemented.

Nzomo said implementation of infrastructure projects like railways connecting several countries in Africa would be more impactful and aid regional integration.

Cavince Adhere, a scholar of international relations with a focus on China-Africa cooperation, applauded the bilateral relations, which have boosted bilateral trade that benefited both sides, adding that African countries should make better use of their available resources to increase exports to China.

Bilateral trade between China and Africa reached $282.1 billion last year, making China the top trade partner for Africa for 15 consecutive years.

Africa should also think of services as the next frontier of trade with China like e-commerce and online jobs as opposed to only focusing on goods to improve exports, he said.

African countries should also utilize provisions from China, like duty-free access to China for 33 countries in Africa, to increase their exports to the Asian powerhouse, Adhere said.

He also suggested harmonization of development programs like Kenya Vision 2030 with China's Vision 2035, as well as the African Union's Agenda 2063.

Partnership valued

He noted the recent surveys by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation and Gallup Organization indicated that Africans greatly value the China-Africa partnership.

The Ichikowitz Family Foundation report said that African youth consider China to be the most influential power in Africa, polling 82 percent, compared to the United States at 79 percent.

Gallup indicated that China's approval among Africans rose from 52 percent in 2022 to 58 percent in 2023, while Washington's popularity fell from 59 percent in 2022 to 56 percent in 2023.

Anita Kiamba, senior lecturer in the Department of Diplomacy and International Studies at the University of Nairobi, said just like Africans have China markets in different countries across Africa, there should also be markets in Chinese cities offering beaded jewelry, handicrafts and many other goods from Africa.

Kizito Sabala, another senior lecturer from Kiamba's department, emphasized the need for technology transfer, both hard and soft.

He appreciated the scholarships that China has been offering to African students but suggested the need for a follow-up on the beneficiaries to ensure that the acquired skills are utilized back in their home countries to avoid educational wastage.