African and Chinese leaders met in Beijing for the 9th triennial Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September 2024, marking a significant diplomatic and political milestone for Global South leadership.
In times of geopolitical rivalry, the achievement of gathering nearly all African countries is astonishing. China and 53 African nations—with the sole exception of Eswatini due to its recognition of Taiwan—adopted the Beijing Declaration on Jointly Building an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era. The term “All-Weather” is relevant in Beijing’s diplomatic lexicon, reserved for its most strategic partnerships, signaling a commitment to enduring, resilient cooperation.
During the summit, China strengthened strategic partnerships with 30 countries, granting many zero-tariff treatment, boosting its soft power and solidifying as the leading force within the so-called Global South. These efforts deepen interdependence, positioning China as a key player in reshaping economic and political structures. Through these alliances, China advances its interests while promoting a vision of a restructured global order, directly challenging the U.S.-led unipolarity that dominated recent decades.
The 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit brought together the same African leaders as China’s summit, while the sixth EU-AU summit earlier that year saw participation from 40 African leaders. However, unlike Beijing, commitments made by Washington and Brussels were less direct, lacking in clarity and concreteness, or were geared toward fulfilling the AU’s long-term development plan, Agenda 2063—distant goals that may feel less immediate for African nations.
China’s approach to Africa is defined by tangible actions—strengthening direct ties, securing trade agreements, and investing over $50 billion over the next three years, all while expanding its political influence across the continent. This commitment to forming concrete alliances is matched by a growing comfort and alignment among African countries, who increasingly embrace the benefits of this partnership.
China has found an effective way to resonate with African leaders—and they respond positively. As an example, China secured political support on sensitive issues like Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, highlighting Africa’s alignment with China’s priorities. Simultaneously, anti-Western rhetoric, particularly aimed at the U.S., alongside veiled references to former European colonialism, grew more pronounced.
Nonetheless, a persistent issue in China-Africa relations is the trade imbalance, with China exporting goods worth US$173 billion to Africa in 2023, compared to US$109 billion in imports from the continent. This disparity challenges both sides: African nations seek greater access to Chinese markets, while China aims to establish more sustainable trade relations.
Additionally, Africa’s growing debt to China has raised concerns about long-term financial viability. A Chatham House report reveals that China accounts for 12% of Africa’s $696 billion external debt, marking a five-time increase between 2000 and 2020. The FOCAC let African leaders urge for greater transparency and accountability regarding China’s commitments.
Nonetheless, China was recognized as Africa’s primary partner, leading in trade, investment, and infrastructure development, thereby positioning itself as a central force in shaping the continent’s economic and political future.
The U.S., EU, and institutions like the World Bank and IMF have also contributed substantial resources to Africa, especially in addressing the debt crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. This competition among global powers, while driven by strategic interests, ultimately brings benefits to the region by increasing access to funding and development opportunities. Conversely, Russia appears more sidelined, focused primarily on military (through the Russian Africa Corps) rather than development. The approaches of these powers differ markedly, with each bringing distinct plans, priorities, and outcomes to the table.
The West’s negative image may stem partly from the fact that the EU and U.S. launched initiatives to compete with China’s widely established Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Africa, namely the Global Gateway in 2021 and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment in 2022. These efforts have been delayed and lack meaningful impact, failing to meet the immediate infrastructure needs of developing economies where China has already gained a dominant foothold.
The geo-economic competition highlights crucial differences in approach, and these distinctions appear to have significant implications. First, the West’s focus on democratic values struggles to resonate with developing nations, which prioritize tangible investments over ideological messaging, making China’s pragmatic, risk-taking model more attractive. Second, while the West favors a market-driven, private sector approach, China’s government-led strategy emphasizes strategic development and long-term geopolitical objectives. China’s BRI, with over US$1 trillion in global investments, showcases its ability to merge soft and hard power, positioning infrastructure as a key instrument of influence.
Another major Global South actor, India, while vocal in advocating for unity, has yet to organize a comparable high-profile event or make substantial investments in Africa, hindered by ongoing internal challenges. As a result, its influence remains largely rhetorical. At times, it has even been counterproductive: Narendra Modi’s measures, triggered by the Ukraine war and aimed at protecting domestic interests, sparked a global rice trade conflict, driven up food prices, and worsened food insecurity in Africa. Meanwhile, India has presented the African Union’s inclusion as a permanent member in the G20 as its most major achievement.
China’s tangible actions underscore a more decisive role in shaping the Global South’s future. Given the expanding ties with Africa, these developments warrant careful consideration within the broader context of global changes. Donald Trump’s second-term focus on “America First,” emphasizing protectionism, isolationism, and nationalism, prioritizes redirecting U.S. resources toward domestic concerns; a policy that creates fresh opportunities for China to strengthen its influence across Africa.
Egypt as a Model of China’s Collaboration with African Nations
Egypt’s role in the African, Global South and BRICS+ contexts offers a compelling case study, given its geopolitical importance. Examining China’s outreach, its impact on regional politics, and the implications for countries like Egypt—positioned at the crossroads of these evolving alliances—provides valuable insights into a new world order in the making.
Egypt was the first African and Arab country to recognize the new communist leadership and establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in 1956, laying the groundwork for early Sino-Egyptian solidarity. However, Post Camp David Accords in 1979, Egypt aligned firmly with the U.S. securing $1.3 billion annually in military aid and relying predominantly on American and Western arms. Today, this once-unshakable alliance is increasingly contested as Chinese investments, converging political ideologies, and growing military collaboration reshape Egypt’s strategic calculus under Vision 2030—a long-term framework for sustainable growth and development.
The 2013 debut of the BRI by Xi Jinping coincided with a turning point in Egypt’s political landscape, when Abdel Fattah el-Sisi rose to power. Bilateral relations between Beijing and Cairo have since expanded at an unprecedented pace. As Cairo embarked on a new era of diplomatic and economic reforms, Beijing has stepped in to reposition itself as a top economic partner, Cairo’s largest trading partner, and a significant contributor to capital flows into Egypt.
Between 2017 and 2022, Chinese investments in Egypt skyrocketed by 317%, surpassing U.S. investments, which decreased by 31% over the same period. Chinese companies—both private and state-owned—operating in Egypt benefit from the country’s extensive network of trade agreements, which help them bypass barriers to exporting to the EU and U.S. Regarding this, the Qualified Industrial Zones agreement enables duty-free entry of Egyptian-manufactured goods into the U.S.
Furthermore, China has elevated Egypt from being an economic partner to a strategic ally within the BRI framework. Together, they established the China-Egypt Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone tied to the “Golden Triangle” operations. The zone is now home to over 145 firms, primarily Chinese, and is rapidly being transformed into a major hub for industrial integration, connecting African, Asian, and Middle Eastern markets.
The military component of the relationship is equally striking. Recently, Chinese naval vessels docked in Alexandria for joint exercises with Egypt’s Navy—an unprecedented display of cooperation. Shortly thereafter, at the Egypt International Airshow, Beijing showcased its advanced Y-20 transport aircraft and debuted the J-10C fighter jets in Africa, reinforcing its role in shaping the regional defence landscape. Egypt’s subsequent decision to replace its aging American F-16 fleet with Chinese jets was both practical and symbolic: a clear message that Cairo is diversifying its alliances. China, largest arms supplier to sub-Saharan Africa from 2019 to 2023, with a 19% share of arms imports, has also expanded its influence into North Africa.
The 10th anniversary of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership marks a milestone in a relationship that dates back 68 years. On May 29, 2024, Xi proposed to El-Sisi the vision of building a “China-Egypt community with a shared future in the new era,” a goal that remains to be fully realized. This proposal underscores the growing depth of their partnership, reflecting not only a shared contemporary history but also a mutual interest in increasing future cooperation.
Overall, in this contest for influence, China’s pragmatic vision steadily undermines the West’s traditional partnership models in Africa. Beyond FOCAC, Egypt-China relations demonstrate how China’s expanding economic, political, and military ties offer a robust alternative to the West’s faltering strategies. As these engagements intensify, Africa’s growing agency will shake global power structures, driving a reconfiguration of alliances in the coming decades.
