China's enduring commitment to Africa with a shared future post-summit

Editor's note: Xin Ping is a commentator on international affairs, writing regularly for Xinhua News, CGTN, Global Times, China Daily, etc. The article reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of CGTN.

My passion for Africa was ignited by films about the continent. While I was captivated by the allure and romance of places like Maasai Mara, the films stirred a mix of emotions within me. Despite its breathtaking beauty and rich endowment, Africa portrayed in the films seemed to me like a land entrenched in conflict and poverty. It was a place of primitive splendor, yet one that seemed to struggle with the harsh realities of life.

Since then, Africa has held a special place in my heart. I firmly believe that its people deserve a better life and share the hope that they will one day be able to transform their circumstances, much like what we have seen in China.

That's why, when Chinese and African leaders convened in Beijing for the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), my expectations were high. And those expectations were not only met, but also exceeded.

China-Africa relations elevated: building an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era

As an ancient Chinese poem aptly states, "true friends always feel close to each other, no matter the distance between them." This sentiment encapsulates the enduring friendship between China and Africa, a bond defined by mutual support and solidarity.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has visited Africa 10 times. For 34 consecutive years, Chinese foreign ministers have kicked off each new year with a visit to Africa, a tradition that is unparalleled in the annals of international diplomacy.

The Chinese people will never forget that it was the African brothers and other developing countries that "carried" the People's Republic of China into the United Nations, and that they have always firmly stood with China in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests in the international arena.

Equatorial Guinea, a country with a population of under two million, demonstrated remarkable solidarity when it donated 2 million euros ($2.19 million) to Wenchuan County in Sichuan Province, which was devastated by an earthquake in 2008. This act of generosity was followed by another donation of over 4.9 million Chinese yuan (about $690,000) in 2015 to build a China-Equatorial Guinea Friendship Primary School in Yunnan Province. These acts of kindness are testament to the profound friendship between China and Africa.

China's support for Africa is not a recent development. Even during China's period of poverty, it reached out to support Africa, as exemplified by the TAZARA railway project in the 1970s. Of the 50,000 Chinese engineers and technicians who went to Africa, 70 made the ultimate sacrifice for this significant undertaking.

The recent FOCAC Summit in Beijing marked a new milestone, elevating the bilateral relationship between China and African countries having diplomatic ties with China to the level of strategic relations, and the overall characterization of China-Africa relations to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. This relationship, as solid as ever, has been nurtured for nearly 70 years through concerted efforts.

"Nigeria is grown up, and we are not kids. So there's no need to look at us from an infantile sort of perspective. We know exactly what we want. And we identify with countries like China," said Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar. He added that "we are looking for friends that we can partner with, work together and coexist together in harmony so that we can develop."

China-Africa cooperation embarking on the fast track of growth: united in advancing modernization

The list of China-Africa cooperation is extensive. It spans from fighting shoulder to shoulder against imperialism, colonialism and hegemonism to advancing hand in hand on the path of development and modernization, including united efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and close cooperation and coordination on major international and regional issues. The 2.8 billion-strong populations of China and Africa have been united in the pursuit of common goals.

Keenly aware of the importance of infrastructure, China has helped Africa build and upgrade nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads, over 10,000 kilometers of railways, nearly 1,000 bridges and nearly 100 ports. In the past three years alone, Chinese companies have created more than 1.1 million job opportunities in Africa.

Health is a form of wealth. China has sent medical teams to almost all African countries, extending their care to rural areas and delivering medical services to an estimated 230 million Africans. Fathiya Mohamed from Tanzania expressed her gratitude, saying, "I really appreciate the Chinese medical team. It's not a one-time occurrence, but an annual thing that they do every year."

At this year's FOCAC Summit, China introduced 10 partnership actions, bringing practical cooperation with Africa to new heights. To implement these 10 partnership actions, the Chinese government will provide Africa with 360 billion yuan ($51bn) of financial support over the next three years.

Furthermore, China has decided to give all least developed countries having diplomatic relations with China, including 33 countries in Africa, zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of their product lines. This has made China the first major developing country and the first major economy to take such a step.

China values and supports a truly independent Africa, and will continue to assist the continent in building its capacity for self-driven development and accelerating its path to modernization.

China-Africa development scaling new heights: promoting modernization of the Global South with China-Africa modernization

African leaders attending the FOCAC Summit visited various Chinese cities and rural areas to seek inspiration for modernization that could be applied to their own nations' development strategies.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Shenzhen, where he toured some of the tech giants ahead of the summit. Struck by the cutting-edge technologies he encountered, Ramaphosa indicated that South Africa is well-positioned to become a leader in green energy and welcomes investments from Chinese electric vehicle companies. 

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa's trip to Hunan Province included a visit to SANY Group, where he observed the advanced intelligent manufacturing processes firsthand. His journey also took him to a town, providing an opportunity to explore China's modern agricultural practices and initiatives aimed at rural revitalization.

Calvin Nyagudi from Kenya said that when he was preparing to come to China, he read President Xi Jinping's book on poverty relief "Up and Out of Poverty." And in it, Xi discussed how rural areas had been transformed in China. This truly inspired Nyagudi.

Modernization is an inalienable right of all nations. The United States has often advised certain Latin American countries against cooperating with China. However, observing the successful China-Africa cooperation, these countries have realized that collaboration with China aligns with their needs and interests. The joint pursuit of modernization by China and Africa is anticipated to spark a new wave of modernization across the Global South.

Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo noted that China has never dictated to Africa that it must follow its lead; instead, African countries are eager to progress in tandem with China, walking side by side.

African countries are experiencing a new awakening, and the African people are clear about who is truly deserving of friendship. Regardless of what happens in the world, the friendship and commitment of the Chinese people to the African people will remain steadfast.

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