The Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation — held in Beijing from Sept. 4 to 6 — was the fourth such summit following those held in 2006 and 2018 in the Chinese capital and the 2015 meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Since 2000, nine ministerial-level forums have been organized, four of which have been upgraded to summits of state leaders. The intensity of China-Africa summits has been the highest among official exchange events involving a major country. Attendees at the 2024 summit included 51 African heads of state and government, two presidential representatives and the chairman of the African Union Commission and secretary-general of the United Nations.
In his speech at the opening ceremony of the summit on Sept. 5, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will elevate its bilateral diplomatic relations with all African countries to a strategic relationship and elevate the overall characterization of China-Africa relations to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. How do we make sense of the new positioning? And how will China promote its cooperation with African countries in the future?
First, the elevation of China’s relations with African countries to a strategic relationship underscores the growing strategic significance of Africa in China’s diplomacy. Developing countries have been seen as an important foundation of China’s foreign policy, and Africa is the cornerstone. China is the largest developing country in the world and a natural member of the Global South. Africa is home to the largest number of developing countries and the largest concentration of Global South nations. This means that China-Africa solidarity embodies the solidarity of the Global South and the collective strength of the developing world.
Given the dramatic global changes not seen in a century — and the consequent uncertainties, along with major shockwaves and adjustments induced by competition between rising and established powers and rivalry among major countries — it is imperative for China to enhance relations with African countries. The strategic significance of China-Africa cooperation has naturally contributed to the elevation of bilateral relations. Notably, this strategic upgrading involves not only large and powerful African countries but also all African countries that have established diplomatic relations with China. This approach reflects the principle that China embraces in its diplomacy: All nations are equal, regardless of their size.
Second, the elevation of the overall characterization of China-Africa relations to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era emphasizes a notable focus on modernization and the all-weather nature of these relations. With the march of economic globalization and the advancement of technology and productivity, both China and Africa need to accelerate their modernization efforts.
In Africa, the African Union has launched Agenda 2063, a master plan for transforming the continent into the global powerhouse of the future. Concurrently, African countries are accelerating the development of the digital economy. In 2022, during the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Beijing announced its commitment to promoting Chinese-style modernization, fostering new-quality productive forces and building a modern industrial system. Moreover, the all-weather nature of China-Africa relations demonstrates the resilience and stability of these relations, which are immune to changes in the international landscape.
In his opening speech, President Xi also outlined 10 partnership actions to be implemented over the next three years, covering areas of mutual learning among civilizations; trade prosperity; industrial chain cooperation; connectivity; development cooperation; health, agriculture and livelihoods; people-to-people and cultural exchanges; green development; and common security.
Unlike action plans launched at previous summits, mutual learning among civilizations and experience-sharing in state governance are at the top of the 10 partnership actions, highlighting the determination and confidence that China and Africa share for exploring a development path that aligns with their national realities. In this regard, Xi announced that China stands ready to work with Africa to build a platform for sharing governance experience, a China-Africa knowledge network for development and 25 centers on China and Africa studies. China will also invite 1,000 members of African political parties to China to deepen exchanges of experience in party and state governance.
For other partnership actions, China outlined specific goals for the next three years. Specifically, it has decided to
• give zero-tariff treatment on all tariff lines to the least developed countries having diplomatic relations with China, including 33 countries in Africa, in a move to turn China’s big market into Africa’s big opportunity;
• jointly build a China-Africa digital technology cooperation center and initiate 20 digital demonstration projects;
• carry out 30 infrastructure connectivity projects in Africa;
• send 2,000 medical personnel to Africa and launch 20 programs, including health facilities and malaria treatment projects;
• send 500 agricultural experts to establish a China-Africa agricultural science and technology innovation alliance; and
• implement 1,000 “small and beautiful” livelihood projects in Africa to create no fewer than 1 million jobs for local communities.
To implement these partnership actions, the Chinese government would provide some $50 billion in financial support, Xi said.
In conclusion, the 2024 Beijing Summit marks the first gathering of Chinese and African leaders since the COVID-19 pandemic. It also enhances the strategic, all-weather nature of their relations. It demonstrates China’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Africa in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment, setting bench marks for high-quality cooperation under the BRI framework, creating a model for the implementation of the Global Development Initiative and playing a leadership role in the modernization process of the Global South.
