FOCAC at 25: Charting the future under the Beijing Action Plan

The Beijing Action Plan (2025–2027), adopted at last year's FOCAC meeting, lays out a detailed roadmap to deepen cooperation across trade, industrialization, green development, digital innovation, and people-to-people exchange. In just one year, the plan has already produced tangible results, from new investment partnerships to stronger collaboration.

Wang Jinjie, Research Assistant Professor at Peking University's National School of Development and Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development, and Charles Onunaiju, Director of the Center for China Studies in Nigeria, explore what's next for this vital partnership.

Small and Beautiful: A new focus for impact

A key theme emerging from the discussion is the shift toward "small and beautiful" projects, localized, high-impact initiatives that deliver fast and tangible benefits to communities.

As Charles Onunaiju explained:

"Africa needs large-scale mega projects. But only focusing on large-scale projects is not enough. Large-scale projects plus small and beautiful projects, they are like two legs. Before, we only had one leg, jumping. Now we have another leg. We walk very balancedly."

Wang Jinjie highlighted a vocational training school in Zambia as a powerful example:

"This is a very small project, but they have already educated local youth, from learning in the classroom to practicum in the workshop, then to internship in a Chinese company. It's a whole chain, making this close the loop from education to the job."

She also pointed to digital rural projects led by Chinese telecom companies:

"They set up very small projects benefiting one village by another, with solar systems, internet access, and school opportunities. It's a multidimensional development."

Areas of visible progress

Professor Wang identified three key areas where the Beijing Action Plan is already turning commitments into action:

Value-added industrialization

African nations are moving beyond raw material exports to participate in global value chains.

"They are not just low-end natural resources providers. They become important players in value chain development."

Economic corridor development

Upgrades to infrastructure, like the TAZARA Railway, are set to boost regional trade and agricultural output.

"Along this railway, more agricultural and industry are being established. It's going to boost the economy in an unbelievable way."

Workforce capacity building

Training programs, vocational schools, and remote learning centers are preparing Africa's youth for future jobs.

"With good preparation of human capital, the booming of the economy will happen much faster."

How African stakeholders can Leverage this momentum

Both experts agreed: African leaders must step up to fully harness the opportunities under FOCAC.

Charles Onunaiju urged:

"What is important is to see the opportunity that China actually presents to Africa, and that throws the ball back to Africa."

He emphasized the need for policy engagement and practical implementation:

"China's experience in ending poverty is in the public domain. There are very obvious lessons that can be learned that are very useful in designing policies that engage the challenge of our people."

He also called for a clear vision of modernization tailored to African contexts:

"Modernization is not skyscrapers. Modernization is the well-being of your people. We must create the material condition to enable our culture and spiritual well-being to flourish."

The way forward

The Beijing Action Plan offers a clear and collaborative path, but its success depends on mutual effort, local alignment, and consistent implementation.

As Charles Onunaiju concluded:

"One hand does not clap. China means what it says and says what it means and is determined to meet Africa halfway. I wish to urge our African brothers to work their part so that the national action plan can deliver, can scale up."