THE 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held on September 3 and 4 in Beijing, and had more than 50 leaders of African countries and the African Union (AU) Commission Chairman in attendance. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres attended as a special guest, while 27 international and African regional organizations took part in the summit activities as observers. This summit has become one of the largest and highest level diplomatic activities in China to date. Taking as its theme, “China and Africa: toward an even stronger community with a shared future through win-win cooperation,” the summit reached a series of important achievements, among which it passed the Beijing Declaration – Toward an Even Stronger China-Africa Community with a Shared Future and the FOCAC Beijing Action Plan (2019-2021). More importantly, the two sides agreed to build a closer community with a shared future. This summit witnessed historic moments in promoting the China-Africa friendship, strengthening unity and cooperation, and promoting common development of China and Africa.
A Rich Harvest of Results
First of all, the FOCAC Beijing Summit has set a new grand goal for promoting China-Africa relations. China and Africa have always been close partners of a common destiny. At the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the proposition of “building a stronger China-Africa community with a shared future,” and clarified the specific connotation of the “six-in-one” proposal that China and Africa should join hands to build a China-Africa community with a shared future that features joint responsibility, win-win cooperation, happiness for all, common cultural prosperity, common security, and harmonious co-existence. All of this has been highly endorsed by all the African countries. This greatly strengthened the resolve of China and Africa to bring their cooperation in various fields to a higher level. To this end, they set goals and laid down the roadmap for the development of the China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership.
Secondly, the summit instilled new vigor into China-Africa cooperation. Based on a comprehensive summary of the successful experience of the “10 cooperation plans” of China and Africa, the summit focused on strengthening pertinence and effectiveness of cooperation. When talking about people-centered cooperation, President Xi Jinping proposed that China and Africa jointly implement eight major initiatives, namely industrial promotion, facilities connectivity, trade facilitation, green development, capacity building, health and hygiene, cultural and educational exchanges, as well as peace and security. China is willing to provide Africa with US $60 billion worth of support in forms of government aid, financing of financial institutions, and corporate investment. African leaders highly value these measures and believe the measures will further promote China-Africa cooperation and accelerate the realization of sustainable development in African countries. They also believe that the Belt and Road Initiative is closely linking Asia and Africa together, injecting new vitality to China-Africa cooperation, and offering innovative solutions for global governance.
The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on September 3, 2018. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech titled “Work Together for Common Development and a Shared Future” at the opening ceremony of the summit. Xinhua/Wang Ye
Thirdly, the summit created new space for deepening South-South cooperation. The summit further highlighted the cooperative willingness and consensus of the 55 participating entities representing a population of 2.6 billion people. It has issued its own voice on major international and regional issues, and explored new paths for development and cooperation, showing its exemplary role in promoting South-South cooperation and helping to better safeguard the common interests of developing countries.
Finally, positive contributions were made to maintain the existing international system. The summit was held at a time when the international landscape is undergoing deep adjustments. China and Africa have clearly issued a strong voice against unilateralism and protectionism, and firmly adhere to multilateralism and the free trade system. They advocate adhering to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, actively promoting the reform of the global governance system, and pushing economic globalization toward open, inclusive, balanced, and win-win developments. In this way, the summit contributed positive factors to the international community, which is being festered by uncertainty and instability.
A Grand Roadmap
The continuation of the China-Africa friendship and cooperation is a full embodiment of new ideas, new initiatives, and new measures of Chinese diplomacy in the new era. In summing up the long-term friendship and cooperation between China and Africa, President Xi Jinping revealed the substantive characteristics of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation by clarifying China’s principles: China values sincerity, friendship, and equality in pursuing cooperation; China pursues common interests and puts friendship first in pursuing cooperation; China takes a people-oriented approach in pursuing practical cooperation with efficiency; China takes an open and inclusive approach to cooperation. Thus, a distinctive win-win cooperation path is blazed.
In President Xi’s speech, he highlighted “five noes” in China’s cooperation with Africa: no interference in African countries’ pursuit of development paths that fit their national conditions; no interference in African countries’ internal affairs; no imposition of China’s will on African countries; no attachment of political strings to assistance to Africa; and no seeking of selfish political gains in investment and financing cooperation with Africa.
Sitting in the venue listening to his speech, the significance of the moment and feeling shared between Africa and China at that moment greatly moved me. During the past 50 years, despite the changing of international trends, in every critical period of the development of China-Africa relations, both sides could look past the challenges to find new ways to promote China-Africa relations by expanding China-Africa cooperation. This relationship has remained unshakable, and will become even stronger as time goes by.
Today, African countries are generally looking forward to accelerating the process of industrialization and modern development of agriculture, and are committed to achieving economic independence, and independent and sustainable development. As a result of its deepening reform at all levels, and promotion of economic restructuring, China has suitable conditions for achieving mutually beneficial and win-win development based on complementary advantages with African countries.
Africa was, in history, one of the extended destinations of the ancient Silk Road, and now is a major participant in the Belt and Road Initiative. This participation will greatly benefit the continent of Africa since it means more incoming resources and promises bigger markets and a better future.
The FOCAC summit held last month joined together the Belt and Road Initiative, the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. It also connected international cooperation in industry with Africa’s industrialization, and demonstrated China’s willingness to share its poverty alleviation experience with Africa. The essence of Sino-African cooperation was summarized by Xi Jinping in his speech as, “valuing sincerity, friendship, and equality; seeking common interests and putting friendship first in pursuing cooperation; being people-oriented; and taking an open and inclusive approach to cooperation.”
In the summit documents, China pledges that its aid to Africa, which has no political strings attached, aims to help the latter develop an inner drive toward economic growth instead of being dependent on exporting raw materials. Only in this way will Africa’s secondary and tertiary industries become strong, and Sino-African economic cooperation be strengthened. On the other side, Africa stresses that a sustainable and diversified path with balanced social and economic development is the guarantee to win-win results.
Chinese and foreign artists stage a Kung Fu performance following a banquet held to welcome guests attending the FOCAC Beijing Summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on September. 3, 2018. Xinhua/ Yan Yan
Both sides moved forward on a route of win-win cooperation as they agreed to work together under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative in industries, infrastructure, trade and commerce, investment, energy resources, agriculture, and environmental protection among others. Meanwhile, the key always lies in improving Africa’s ability of independent development, its livelihood, and working environment. Besides, aligning the BRI with the AU’s Agenda 2063, the UN’s 2030 Agenda, and African countries’ development strategies will facilitate cooperation and benefit more people.
Both parties emphasized the importance of security, and much time was spent at the summit discussing ways to maintain it. There will be further cooperation in peace and security. China has decided to establish a foundation in this regard, the first one of its kind in Africa. Besides, China is firm in supporting African countries and regional organizations to find ways to solve social problems in the African way. China declared that it will also provide free military aid to the AU, in support of African countries and regions near Sahel, Gulf of Aden, and Gulf of Guinea to improve their own ability of peace keeping.
A Landmark of South-South Cooperation
The summit set a milestone for South-South cooperation. China is the biggest developing country in the world, while Africa has the largest number of developing countries. Their willingness to develop shoulder to shoulder will never be subject to disparity in strength or vicissitudes in the international arena.
This year, we are glad to see that forums between China and Latin America, China and the Arab world, China and Africa were held in succession, covering the majority of developing countries. Besides these forums, China also hosted the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference 2018 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Qingdao Summit. These all demonstrate the fact that China is determined to promote South-South cooperation and also show the strong momentum of cooperation among developing countries.
President Xi pointed out in his speech at the summit that China will deepen its solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries for common growth; and will invite willing countries to work together in building the Belt and Road, and share the dividends. Seeing that the initiative opens up a new path for solving global development issues, Africans countries have shown great initiative to join.
The unprecedented changes in the world today create new opportunities, while at the same time, they pose challenges such as deficits in peace, development, and governance. As the biggest developing country, China is duty-bound to safeguard the common interests of the developing world, and work with others for a more just and balanced world and a community with a shared future. It will stick to the principle of achieving shared growth through extensive consultation and collaboration, and will be open and inclusive to exploring the potential cooperation with other developing countries.
With the conclusion of FOCAC Beijing Summit, steps have been taken to implement what was agreed on. During the summit, MoUs were signed on 42 cooperation projects in the industrial sector between China and African countries including Egypt, and South Africa. There are also other ongoing projects on people-to-people exchanges.
“If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together.” This African idiom is revealing. The new start will once again put Sino-African relations on a path which the two can march hand in hand toward establishing a community with a shared future for mankind.
