As the African continent prepares for the high-profile meetings at the Forum for China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) leaders and citizens from both sides will be happy that trade between China and Africa has reached a record high of $282.1 billion by 2023.
In the past few decades China has risen to become the second largest economy after the USA, the number one trading partner with the African continent, and number two with South Africa. More importantly, China has built on mutual friendly relations and historical solidarity with the continent to boost closer socio-economic and political ties, Growing people to people diplomacy has unlocked new studying and employment opportunities for a growing number of Africans in, and outside the continent.
Ambassador Peng highlighted the transformative impacts of enhanced cooperation and solidarity with African countries, noting that in 2023, the trade between China and Africa reached a record high of 282.1 billion US dollars, a 26-fold increase since the FOCAC was founded. He noted that China’s foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa exceeded 40 billion US dollars, growing by over 100 folds compared with the year 2000.
Addressing the launch of a book titled ‘Xi Jinping and the Flourishing Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in the New Era’, the Chinas Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng said the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is the most important symbol of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation.
Since its inception in 2000, FOCAC has facilitated collective dialogue and practical cooperation between China and Africa to promote and deepen mutually beneficial relations. Ambassador Weng said that, “For the past 24 years since its formation, FOCAC has become an exemplar for international cooperation with Africa and a model for South-South cooperation.
“Fifty-two African countries and the African Union Commission have signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with China. It is China’s long-term strategic choice and the cornerstone of our foreign policy to enhance solidarity and cooperation with African countries, including South Africa,”
Ambassador Peng summed up some of the important projects in which China and Africa are working together in the continent such as the AU Conference Centre, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway, the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway, the Maputo-Katembe Bridge, have all been completed.
China has built and upgraded more than 10,000 kilometres of railways. We have constructed nearly 100,000 kilometres of highways and over 60,000 kilometres of submarine cables, as well as nearly 1,000 bridges, 100 ports and over 100 health facilities and schools.
“Chinese enterprises help build networks in African countries. They have served more than 900 million African people, improving Africa’s capacity for self-driven, sustainable development, and creating great opportunities for both China and Africa to make progress and achieve prosperity.
“FOCAC stands out from the many global and transregional cooperation frameworks as well as initiatives on cooperation with Africa. This is largely because it always advocates [for] friendship and cooperation, and follows the principles of mutual respect, treating each other as equals and joint consultation,” the Ambassador explained.
Going into the future, China will work closely to advance the goals of African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063, support Africa’s green development and technological take off.
In early September 2024 Chinese and African leaders will attend the FOCAC summit in Beijing, to be held under the theme ‘Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future’.