BEIJING: In a rapidly globalizing world with increasing health and epidemiologic transitions, the international community and multilateralism have become highly active, coordinated and robust forcing all to cooperate in one way or another.
A case study history tells us that in the 7th century and through the present day, the economic relations between China and Africa have grown with China seeking resources for its growing consumption, and African countries seeking funds to develop their infrastructure. This is a pure win-win situation that should be encouraged and not unnecessarily politicized.
Again, looked at keenly it is a partnership based on mutual respect, equality, and win-win cooperation. Reinforced by Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), this provides a meeting point for African countries and China to exchange ideas, make agreements, and develop strategies to strengthen economic cooperation and enhance Africa’s sustainable development.
What are the goals of FOCAC?
In a nutshell, it is based on equal consultation, enhancing understanding, expanding consensus, strengthening friendship and promoting cooperation.
What are the FOCAC principles?
As earlier seen at the last summit in Beijing in 2021, President Xi Jinping of China emphasised the “Five Nos” which guide its foreign policy in dealing with African countries and other developing countries notably: (1) No interference in the way African countries pursue their development paths according to their national conditions; (2) no interference in a country’s internal affairs; (3) no imposition of China’s will on African countries; (4) no attachment of political strings to assistance to Africa; and (5) no seeking of selfish political gains in investment and financing cooperation.
These come with the notion that re-assurance that Africa will not walk a lonely path, implying that Africa can always count on the genuine support of the people of China
Equally, the FOCAC meetings since inception in 2000 has been a uni-multilateral partnership platform between China and 53 African states (all African states except Eswatini, which maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan)
After every three years, since then African Heads of State and China have been meeting to discuss industrial promotion, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, and green development with emphasize that “China-Africa cooperation should and will be of mutual benefits for the people of China and the people of Africa.”
Envisioned to take place in China again on 4th-6th September this year, FOCAC initiatives will be timely to address public health and health research gaps, South-South health development platforms and cooperation in shaping innovative national health evidence policies, priorities, programs and benefits in developing countries.
This is because international bilateral or multilateral cooperation on health development has been evolving rapidly since the late twentieth century to meet the increasing needs of vulnerable populations, moving forward effective Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Looked at keenly, African countries need to borrow from China’s significant health diplomacy that emphasizes the importance of health financing in establishing health development commitment and investment in improving the gains and opportunities, importantly efficiency and value health priorities and planning.
Observers comment on the 4th-6th September FOCAC in Beijing
The upcoming 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation is expected to bear fruitful results to further deepen Sino-African relations, according to Political Analyst-cum-Advocate Novatus Igosha Africa will gain market opportunities for its agricultural products, foreign direct investments particularly in infrastructures development, diplomatic support of China in multilateral cooperation, where so far Tanzania is now leveraging on promoting Kiswahili language in the world arena.
Others in Africa who commented are Alan Khan, senior director of corporate affairs at Durban University of Technology in Durban, South Africa, noting that the summit is expected to strengthen the strategic partnership between Africa and China.
With the African Development Bank estimating that Africa’s need for infrastructure funding is between $130 billion and $170 billion annually, Khan said the FOCAC summit will present an opportunity to address such a challenge.
“China is currently the biggest trading partner with the African continent, and therefore this partnership is highly important for all the involved parties, since these economies are interdependent,” said Khan.
“The summit presents an opportunity to deepen cooperation in areas such as education, infrastructure development, healthcare and technology. We anticipate concrete commitments and action plans that will drive sustainable development and mutual growth.”
As African countries intensify efforts to boost intra-Africa trade, quality infrastructure, such as roads and railways, is needed to support the free movement of goods and support trade on the continent, Khan said.
Therefore, it is likely that the FOCAC summit will prioritize infrastructure development to enhance connectivity between African countries, as well as connectivity between China and Africa as a whole, he added.
“This connectivity is the engine that drives economic growth and feeds into” the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, which has drawn the participation of 44 sub-Saharan African countries, Khan said.
The upcoming summit, similar to previous FOCAC meetings, is expected to discuss educational exchanges and research, which will help boost scholarships and collaborative research projects to stimulate innovation and skills development in Africa, he said.
In addition, more cooperation is expected in areas that will boost the sustainable and long-term development of Africa, such as healthcare and green technologies, he said, adding that these priorities are essential for fostering long-term sustainable growth and improving the quality of life across the African continent.
“FOCAC has been highly beneficial in nurturing China-Africa relations,” Khan said. “There have been significant investments in roads, railways and ports that have improved trade and mobility for many African nations.
There have been joint efforts in combating diseases like Ebola and COVID-19, including improving healthcare infrastructure and capacities for some countries in Africa. In terms of people-to-people exchange, important exchange mechanisms and platforms have been established under FOCAC.”
One of the numerous projects supported by FOCAC in Africa is an institute at Durban University of Technology that supports technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, and promotes vocational training that aligns with local needs, he said.
Khan said he also expects that more projects will be established across Africa that will improve inclusive development, benefiting all segments of society, and will align with environmental sustainability goals in order to mitigate climate change impacts on many African countries.
Oliver Bulaya, a prominent advocate of smart agriculture in Zambia, said that under FOCAC, increased Chinese investment and development initiatives have had a significant impact on local communities in the nation over the past two decades.
He said he hopes that future cooperation will focus more on addressing environmental and social challenges for local communities, so that FOCAC can contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive development path for Zambia.
Meanwhile, speaking with representatives of the Chinese community in Kenya at a meeting on Aug 6, Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s prime cabinet secretary, said the upcoming FOCAC summit will renew practical cooperation with China in a wide range of areas, such as trade and investment, green financing, affordable housing and people-to-people exchanges.
Khan, from South Africa, said that Chinese engagement in Africa is different from that of the former colonial powers and some other major nations.
“Chinese engagement often focuses on mutual benefit and noninterference, prioritizing development and long-term investments,” he said.
What to expect from the summit
The summit, under the theme of “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future,” aims to create new avenues for solidarity and cooperation, thereby accelerating the shared development of both sides.
The summit is expected to explore ways to strengthen friendship and cooperation and to write a new chapter on building a China-African community with a shared future.
It is worth noting that since the establishment of this forum in 2000, the focus has been on achieving shared prosperity and sustainable development for the Chinese and African peoples, through a commitment to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits.
As the forum approaches its 25th anniversary next year, it has evolved into an important platform for collective dialogue and an effective mechanism for practical cooperation between China and Africa, built on a solid foundation of friendship, respect, trust, and mutual benefit.
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Case study: African envoys expect deeper ties with China
African diplomats to Kenya have expressed strong optimism for the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit, viewing it as an opportunity to further deepen ties and chart new paths of cooperation toward building a China-Africa community with a shared future.
The diplomats, having toured key Belt and Road Initiative projects in Kenya, including the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, lauded the initiative for transforming the continent’s infrastructure network and consequently boosting economic growth.
Anouar Ben Youssef, Tunisia’s ambassador to Kenya, said the FOCAC summit, scheduled for Sept 4-6 in Beijing, will provide a chance to reaffirm China’s engagement with Africa across various sectors beyond infrastructure.
“The summit will also be an opportunity to exchange new views and opportunities for a stronger cooperation between China and Africa,” he said.
Youssef emphasized China’s readiness to support Africa and urged countries across the continent to align their needs with internal development plans.
Many BRI projects in Kenya reflect China’s interest and commitment to help African countries develop in strategic fields such as communications and transport, he said.
Despite the West’s unfounded accusations that China is burdening Africa with debt, the evidence of significant infrastructure development across the continent demonstrates China’s role as a key partner.
This is in addition to the interest shown by African countries in maintaining and furthering their relationship with China.
Sanyu Manday, counselor at the Uganda High Commission in Kenya, said she expects African countries to propose development projects at the FOCAC summit and hopes China can help explore ways to assist in their implementation.
“For Uganda, we are looking at constructing a Standard Gauge Railway to connect with the Kenyan one to further ease transportation and improve trade,” she said.
Engagement strategy
Damptey Bediako Asare, Ghana’s high commissioner to Kenya, said each African country should go to the FOCAC summit with an understanding of their development needs and a strategy on how they want to engage China.
He said it should be clear to them whether they want to engage China as a continent or individually and whether the African Union should negotiate on behalf of the continent.
“To benefit fully from the BRI, African countries must prepare adequately, understand what they need, understand their development needs and be able to negotiate effectively,” Asare said.
Andrew Sesinyi, Botswana’s high commissioner to Kenya, said not only is China a good friend of Africa, but the level of bilateral cooperation is also on the rise.
“The relationship between China and Africa is not a scenario of a relationship between the wolf and the lamb. It’s a true cooperation based on equity and mutual benefits,” he said.
The BRI projects visited by diplomats in Kenya reflect Africa’s efforts to attract true partners and investors, he said.
“It’s a global village; nobody is going to make it on their own. Whether the developed world or the developing world, we need cooperation,” Sesinyi said.
Zhou Pingjian, Chinese ambassador to Kenya, said through the joint efforts by China and Africa, this year’s FOCAC summit will be a great success.
“The summit will be an event to celebrate China-Africa friendship, explore cooperation and chart the course for the future under the theme of joining hands to advance modernization and build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future,” he said.
