Wang's Africa tour firmly cements win-win cooperation

Editor's note: Hannan Hussain, a special commentator for CGTN, is a writer and assistant research associate at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, recently wrapped up his six-day visit to Egypt, Tunisia, Togo and Cote d'Ivoire. The trip paved the way for an elevation in China-Egypt bilateral ties, accelerated joint implementation of China-Africa cooperation outcomes, and strengthened resolve to address pressing development and conflict challenges. "China-Africa cooperation has made historic achievements, providing crucial assistance in accelerating Africa's development and contributing to global peace and stability," Wang Yi told President of Cote d'Ivoire Alassane Ouattara. Several breakthroughs merit attention.

First, Beijing and Cairo collectively welcomed a 10-year vision for expanding their comprehensive strategic partnership. High-value collaborations are set to span new energy, aerospace, technology, the digital economy and signature infrastructure projects under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China's commitment to bolstering investment, talent training and import access is a major win for Egypt, given its efforts to identify as China's biggest partner on the continent.

High-level talks between Wang Yi and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi stand to enrich existing synergies between Cairo's 2030 development vision and the BRI. After all, joint construction of the BRI remains a vital consideration for realizing Egypt's regionwide mega development initiatives, chiefly the Suez Canal Development Project. Nearly 1,200 Chinese enterprises are active across major sectors of the Egyptian economy, including technology, industry and economic zones, underlining the merits of greater Chinese investment to propel Egypt's "national construction and economic development."

Moreover, timely exchanges have reinforced unity in addressing conflict spillovers, ceasefire gaps, and unmitigated civilian casualties from the Israel-Palestine conflict. Tunisia, Egypt and China's joint support for Palestinian statehood sent an unmistakable signal that the path to enduring peace runs through self-determination and a complete cessation of hostilities. This is important because the absence of a lasting truce has given way to major conflict spillovers in the Red Sea, threatening a protracted fallout. All this makes it imperative for nations to back proposals for a larger Israeli-Palestinian peace conference and prioritize a truly binding two-state solution process.

In Tunis, the China-built International Diplomatic Academy served as a fitting tribute to 60 years of diplomatic relations. The inaugural academy identifies as a gateway for bolstering mutual understanding and people-to-people linkages in support of the strategic direction set by their heads of state. Recall that the promotion and "greater development" of friendly Sino-Tunisian cooperation was a key feature of President Xi's high-level strategic consensus with his Tunisian counterpart Kais Saied in Riyadh, strengthening alignment.

Built over five decades, Sino-Togolese relations remain wholly symbiotic, and China continues to encourage the latter's export growth through special zero-tariff policies. Wang's latest visit goes many steps further. It features a commitment to accelerating Lome's industrialization process, conferring future priority over multi-sector engagement in areas of poverty alleviation, agriculture, industrial parks, interconnectivity, the digital economy, personnel training and environmental protection.

Moreover, diverse engagement across all these areas closely aligns with the outcomes of the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue last year. According to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Chinese exports to Togo stood at nearly $3 billion in 2021, revealing vital space to dialup Chinese investments in the country and support Togo's local industries. Beijing has continued to serve as Africa's leading trading partner for 14 years, and trade volume reached a record-setting $282 billion in 2022. Cognizant of transformational progress, Beijing and Togo have also vowed to lay the groundwork for the next meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

Finally, a hard-earned "upgrade" in mutually beneficial China-Cote d'Ivoire cooperation was long coming. Both partners have made remarkable trade and development strides to bring upgradation prospects to the forefront. For instance, Beijing continues to serve as Cote d'Ivoire's largest trading partner, its biggest source of investment, and Abidjan has also welcomed sustained support for its regional connectivity ambitions under the BRI.

It is here that President Alassane Ouattara's willingness to develop relations on a "priority" basis signals long-term convergence. Promising avenues include advanced transit capacity-building for Cote d'Ivoire's largest commercial port, debt-sustainability support, and flexible lending to help the country's post-COVID-19 economic recovery. "[Cote d'Ivoire] would continue to prioritize its relations with China, looking forward to learning from China's successful experiences, expanding cooperation in various fields, and achieving more outcomes,"Ouattara told Wang.

Thus understood, Wang's Africa trip sheds light on China's deep-seated bonds and ironclad ties within the region. It invites crucial focus on bilateral trade progress, sustainable development and conflict resolution– all the drivers that have consolidated common ground for decades.

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