The ninth China-Africa Summit in Beijing
(picture Xinhua)
km. From 4-6 September 2024, for the ninth time since 2000, heads of state and government of African countries met with government representatives of the People’s Republic of China for their Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)1. The meeting takes place every three years at different locations; this time it was in Beijing. Delegations from 53 African countries participated in the conference, with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi as main speakers from China.
The results of the conference are set out in a comprehensive 30-point joint final declaration and an even more extensive action plan.2 The final declaration is well worth reading and goes far beyond issues of economic, technological and cultural cooperation. It is also a kind of global political programme (see box) – which was hardly discussed in the Western media.
The list of the planned expansions of relations is very large: it ranges from a further expansion of trade (China is already Africa’s largest trading partner), the promotion of agricultural, industrial and technological development in Africa, the promotion of so-called green energies, the dispatch of medical personnel (2,000 Chinese doctors and other medical personnel are to work in African countries), support for educational projects (6,000 citizens of African countries are to be trained and further educated with a view to working in China) and cultural exchange in general, to an intensification of military cooperation. Exports from African countries to China – not only of raw materials and agricultural products, but also of African industrial products – are to be promoted. For the poorest 33 African states, there are to be no more Chinese customs barriers in future.
In addition, China has declared that it will make 360 billion yuan (more than 40 billion Swiss francs) available to African countries over the next three years, 210 billion yuan of which will be in the form of loans, 80 billion yuan as direct aid and 70 billion yuan through investments by Chinese companies.
Not only in China, but also in Africa itself – and not only among governments, but according to recent surveys3 also among the majority of the population – Chinese-African cooperation is consistently seen very positive. China’s president explained that bilateral relations with many African countries have been elevated to the level of strategic relations, meaning that it is about much more than just economic relations.
In the memory of the African peoples, China (like Russia) supported the African states in decolonization after the Second World War, while the Western states are still perceived as colonial powers today. China has reaffirmed that it will not interfere in the internal affairs of African states in future. And almost all African states do not want to be drawn into the Western confrontation with Russia and China. Their point of reference is the Non-Aligned Movement.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also took part in the conference and praised relations between China and Africa in his speech. He said that cooperation between China and Africa was a “pillar of South-South cooperation” and added: “China’s remarkable development achievements – including the eradication of poverty – offer a wealth of experience and expertise.” And: “You can count on the full commitment of the United Nations to support a strong China-Africa partnership”.
The summit was also widely reported in Western media. It was noticeable that, although there were attempts to find the ‘fly in the ointment’, the extent of the polemic was limited. Instead, the tenor was that the West had left Africa too much to China and Russia in recent decades. Obviously, the West does not want to spoil things completely with Africa but is now focusing on charm offensives – in clearly recognisable competition with China (and Russia).
Typical of this is the short press release issued by German Minister for Development Svenja Schulze on 5 September:4 “The China-Africa summit is an expression of the new multipolar world order. The African states do not want to be tied down but are free to decide with whom they cooperate and where”. Then she added: “African countries, with their young populations and their wealth of renewable energies and raw materials, are also important partners for us in Europe.” This is why “cooperation” should be expanded – with “an overall mutually respectful approach”.
We will see. •
1 comprehensive information in English language on the conference can be found at https://2024focacsummit.mfa.gov.cn/eng/
2 https://2024focacsummit.mfa.gov.cn/eng/hyqk_1/202409/t20240906_11486214.htm and https://2024focacsummit.mfa.gov.cn/eng/hyqk_1/202409/t20240906_11486213.htm
3 cf. https://www.journal21.ch/artikel/china-propagiert-sein-gegenmodell of 5 September 2024
4 https://www.bmz.de/de/aktuelles/aktuelle-meldungen/statement-schulze-china-afrika-gipfel-224870 of 5 September 2024
Beijing Declaration on Jointly Building an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era (Excerpts)
[…] 4. The year 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Africa commends China’s consistent commitment to these important principles when developing relations with Africa and believes that these principles are equally important for Africa in pursuing development, maintaining friendly state-to-state relations and respecting sovereign equality of each other. […] China will continue to respect African countries’ political and economic choices based on their own national conditions and honor the principles of noninterference in African countries’ internal affairs and nonattachment of political strings to assistance to Africa. China and Africa will always honor the everlasting spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, characterized by sincere friendship and equality, win-win for mutual benefit and common development, fairness and justice, and progress with the times and openness and inclusiveness, jointly build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
5. We underscore that China and Africa are committed to supporting each other on issues of their core interests and major concerns. China reaffirms its firm support for Africa’s efforts to safeguard national independence and unity, territorial integrity, sovereignty, security and development interests. Africa reaffirms its firm commitment to the one- China principle, and reaffirms that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and firmly supports all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification. Issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Xizang are China’s internal affairs, as observed in international law and the noninterference principle. […]
7. China supports African countries in increasing their influence and role in global governance, in particular, by requiring a more inclusive framework to address the world’s problems. China believes that Africans are qualified to serve as heads of international organizations and institutions, and supports their work. Africa appreciates it that China is the first country to support the AU in joining the G20. China will continue to support the priorities concerning Africa at the G20. China applauds and welcomes more African countries to join the BRICS family and welcomes the Cameroonian candidate to serve as the President of the 79th session of the U.N. General Assembly.
8. China and Africa jointly call for an equal and orderly multipolar world, and firmly safeguard the international system with the U.N. at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter. We call for necessary reform and strengthening of the U.N. including its Security Council, redressing the historical injustices done to Africa, and increasing the representation of developing countries, African countries in particular, in the U.N. and its Security Council. China supports making special arrangements on the U.N. Security Council reform to meet Africa’s aspiration as a priority. […]
9. China and Africa jointly call for a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization that meets the common needs of all countries, especially the developing countries, and attach great importance to the concerns of African countries. We call for reforming the international financial system and improving development financing for countries in the Global South to realize common prosperity and better meet the development needs of African countries. We will take an active part in and promote the reform of multilateral financial institutions, including quota, special drawing rights and voting rights reform of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). We call for increasing the representation and voice of developing countries, so that the international monetary and financial systems will better reflect the changes in the international economic landscape in a more just way. […]
22. We are gravely concerned about the serious humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip caused by the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict and its negative impact on global security, and call for earnest implementation of the relevant resolutions of the U.N. Security Council and the U.N. General Assembly and immediate ceasefire and end of the fighting. China commends Africa’s important role in working for an end to the conflict in Gaza, including efforts to reach a cessation of hostilities, realize release of hostages and increase the provision and distribution of humanitarian aid. Africa commends China’s great efforts in supporting the just cause of the Palestinian people. We reiterate the crucial importance of achieving a comprehensive settlement on the basis of the two-State solution, and support the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on which Israel and Palestine can live side by side in peace. We call for supporting UNRWA in upholding its mandate to avert the humanitarian, political and security risks that would result from any interruption or suspension of its work. We support all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis. […]
Source: https://2024focacsummit.mfa.gov.cn/eng/hyqk_1/202409/t20240906_11486214.htm