China-Africa cooperation enters new era of shared progress

Editor's note: Zhong Guan, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, has a PhD in international relations and is a columnist on world affairs. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Every January, the Chinese foreign minister makes Africa the destination of his first overseas visit. This is a diplomatic tradition upheld for over three decades and stands as a solemn affirmation of China's enduring commitment to the Global South.

The year 2026 marks not only the full launch of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), but also the preparatory phase for the next ministerial conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

The 2024 FOCAC Summit forged a crucial strategic consensus. Building on this foundation, the subsequent Coordinators' Meeting in Changsha the following year charted a concrete roadmap for action. Together, they have set a clear course for turning vision into institutional practice and pledges into tangible results.

For decades, a persistent security deficit has undermined Africa's development potential. External interference, terrorist threats, and political instability have trapped many countries in a cycle of instability and underdevelopment.

The 2024 FOCAC summit broke new ground by elevating "supporting Africa in achieving enduring peace and universal security" to a top priority. China announced dedicated programs to enhance Africa's peace and security capabilities, pledging to train more than 6,000 African professionals in security-related fields over the next three years and to bolster support for the African Union (AU) and regional organizations in peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, and maritime security.

This approach reflects a core tenet of China's modernization philosophy: Development cannot take root without security, and security remains fragile without development. At the 2025 Coordinators' Meeting, this principle was swiftly translated into action.

This approach respects African partners and strengthens local capacity. It aligns with Africa's own Agenda 2063 and reflects a key insight from China's modernization drive: Developing countries can and must pursue security and development paths rooted in their own history and civilization, free from external dependence.

Beyond trade: building value together

Economic cooperation between China and Africa is undergoing a profound transformation. China announced it would provide zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent of tariff lines to all African countries with diplomatic ties to China. This unprecedented move marks the largest market opening in the history of China-Africa trade. It is also a strong example for trade justice worldwide.

Since early 2025, Rwandan chili peppers, Ethiopian coffee beans, and Tanzanian cashews have gained wider markets in China. This is supported by new trade measures from the FOCAC Coordinators' Meeting, including fast-track customs clearance and mutual recognition of food safety standards.

The true breakthrough lies beyond tariff elimination. China is actively encouraging enterprises to invest in agricultural processing zones across Africa, helping local producers capture more value, leveraging the Silk Road E-commerce to connect African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) directly with Chinese consumers, and strengthening key digital infrastructure, including logistics and payment systems.

More importantly, it shows that developing countries need not copy Western development paths. True modernization starts with one's own strengths by building the real economy, investing in infrastructure, and using smart industrial policies to drive growth. For many African countries, this is a hopeful alternative that blends local advantages with modern technology to forge an independent development path.

From aid to health resilience

The pandemic exposed deep weaknesses in global public health systems and strengthened China-Africa solidarity. At the 2024 summit, both sides committed to building a China-Africa community of health for all, moving from crisis response to enduring system building.

The 2025 Coordinators' Meeting accelerated the implementation of this vision. The first batch of China-Africa joint public health laboratories are now operational in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Senegal. A "Thousand Doctors for Africa" training program is already underway. China and the AU are expanding telemedicine services and digital health records to rural communities through a joint digital health plan.

Localizing traditional Chinese medicine and co-developing vaccine production are key initiatives that bolster Africa's health resilience. In this process, health cooperation has evolved into one of the most heartwarming bonds connecting our peoples.

A stronger voice for the Global South

China and Africa have long stood together in defending multilateralism, demanding climate justice, and resisting attempts to monopolize tech rules. Building on this shared stance, the 2024 FOCAC Summit reaffirmed their commitment to Global South solidarity and self-reliance, and the 2025 Coordinators' Meeting established a dedicated mechanism to better align their positions at the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the G20.

Together, China and Africa are shaping global governance in a multipolar era. The AU is now a full G20 member, and both sides consistently uphold shared positions on development finance, climate justice, and institutional reform. At COP30, they jointly advocated greater support to vulnerable countries. They are also co-shaping rules in emerging areas like artificial intelligence (AI), digital trade, and platform regulation.

This partnership is rooted in shared history and common development goals. As China seeks to help reshape global governance and Africa pushes for a fairer world order, their alignment is creating new space for the development of the Global South.

Looking ahead

China-Africa relations are more than a partnership between two continents. The steady success of Chinese modernization is inspiring African countries to pursue their own development paths with greater confidence.

As more African countries align their development strategies with this vision, China-Africa cooperation is evolving into a powerful engine of shared progress, helping to shape a more equitable multipolar world for generations to come.

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