China's modernization plan lauded

As China embarks on a new journey in the next five years with the recently released recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for economic and social development, African scholars and experts have hailed China's efforts to promote high-standard opening-up, saying it will bring more development opportunities for the continent and the whole world.

The recommendations, adopted at the fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee in October, call for high-quality development, technological self-reliance, and green transformation — principles that African experts believe align closely with the continent's aspirations for industrialization and inclusive growth.

The proposed plan recommended expanding high-level opening-up and deepening international cooperation as an important part of China's modernization strategy, despite a global environment marked by shifting trade patterns and rising protectionism.

"China's move toward high-quality engagement challenges Africa to raise its own standards," said Melha Rout Biel, founder and executive director of the Institute for Strategic and Policy Studies in South Sudan. "If we want to trade with China's market, our goods must meet high standards. This is a partnership that demands readiness from both sides."

Biel described the proposals as "a road map that reaffirms China's commitment to working closely with the Global South" through initiatives such as the Global Development Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.

"China is talking about high quality — not just quality, but high quality?— in everything," Biel said. "This should motivate Africa to modernize its industries, invest in technology, and empower its young population."

He pointed to projects built through China-Africa cooperation, including Ethiopia's modernization drive, Egypt's New Administrative Capital or New Cairo, and Kenya's Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway as examples of partnerships that have delivered lasting value.

Extending such infrastructure across borders, he said, could make intra-African trade cheaper and more efficient with the African Continental Free Trade Area, which is essential to cushion the continent from external shocks caused by trade tariffs from the United States.

Echoing this sentiment, Amina Toure, a researcher in African Studies and Africa-China relations at the University of Cambridge, said China's proposals for the 15th Five-Year Plan represent an evolution from large-scale infrastructure projects toward cooperation centered on standards, sustainability, and innovation.

"The language of 'high-standard opening-up' signals a move toward regulated, sustainability-oriented, and higher-value cooperation," Toure said. "For Africa, this is an opportunity only if it aligns with national industrial strategies — not just project-by-project deals."

She said that future engagement should prioritize value addition, digital infrastructure, and green technologies, ensuring African participation in global supply chains.

Toure said the proposal's focus on high-quality development and green transition provides new horizons for cooperation that reflect China's determination to modernize while contributing to shared global progress.

Carlos Lopes, a professor at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, said the CPC's call for "high-standard opening-up" is a "good and necessary evolution" that responds to Africa's long-standing priorities.

Real test

"Africa has long argued that the real test of partnership is not just how many kilometers are built, but how much value stays," Lopes said, adding that future China-Africa cooperation will stress linking Chinese finance to Africa's regional value chains, AfCFTA implementation, energy for industry, and skills which align with Africa's own development agenda.

Lopes noted that while the first wave of the BRI filled critical infrastructure gaps, "the continent now needs connectivity that leads to production", adding that Beijing's new emphasis on "high quality" gives Africa room to advance its own industrial and digital ambitions.

"This is a positive development," he said. "African governments should now use this friendlier policy window from Beijing to push for industrial zones powered by reliable energy, local suppliers, and digital infrastructure that hosts African platforms and data."

Cavince Adhere, a scholar of international relations with a focus on China-Africa cooperation, said China's proposal for the 15th Five-Year Plan sends "a signal of stability" at a time of geopolitical uncertainty.

"Many countries claim to have long-term plans, but they often change when governments change," he said. "China's model is different - its planning is truly long-term, spanning even decades."

"At its heart, China's success comes from two things: a government that can get things done, and a willingness to adjust as it goes. The ideas are there for anyone to use. The real work is making them fit your country, your people, and your future."