The upgraded partnerships between China and Botswana and between China and Togo will provide a stronger political foundation and greater certainty for future cooperation, Ma Hanzhi, an associate research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told CGTN following President Xi Jinping's meetings with the two countries' leaders on Tuesday.

Ma said the visits underscore the high level of China-Africa relations in a year marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and African countries. They also come as both sides work to implement the outcomes of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), ahead of the next FOCAC ministerial conference in 2027.

Upgraded ties set stage for closer cooperation

On Tuesday, Xi and Botswana's President Duma Gideon Boko agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, while Xi and President of the Council of the Togolese Republic Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a China-Togo community with a shared future for the new era.

The elevation of bilateral relations reflects the needs and aspirations of both sides, providing a stronger political foundation and greater strategic certainty for future cooperation, Ma said.

China and Botswana, as well as China and Togo, have long served as examples of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, Ma noted, adding that the upgraded ties demonstrate both sides' commitment to closer ties.

Ma also pointed out that the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Botswana will open up new opportunities for cooperation in critical minerals and help enhance Botswana's regional influence.

Meanwhile, the China-Togo community with a shared future for the new era will translate the broader China-Africa vision of a community with a shared future into more concrete outcomes at the bilateral level, creating new opportunities for exchanges and cooperation across a wide range of fields, Ma added.

Mining cooperation to support Africa's industrial development

During his meeting with Boko, Xi put forward four proposals on China-Africa mining cooperation: respecting the principle that Africa's resources belong to Africa, upholding the principle of mutual benefit, pursuing high-quality development, and maintaining a fair and open environment for cooperation. 

Ma said the proposals respond directly to Africa's growing calls for resource sovereignty and greater local value addition. They also address the continent's need to strengthen its industrial capacity and attract international investment, he added.

The principle that Africa's resources belong to Africa affirms the continent's resource sovereignty and right to development. At the same time, mutually beneficial cooperation should deliver gains for both resource-rich countries and investors, rather than lead to exploitation or resource plunder, Ma said.

He added that China's emphasis on a fair and open environment counters exclusive arrangements in the critical minerals sector and rejects efforts to turn Africa into an arena of major-power rivalry.

China's willingness to share its development experience, help African countries formulate mining plans suited to their national conditions, and promote the transfer of green technologies also reflects an approach that goes beyond resource extraction, Ma said, noting that such cooperation could help African countries expand processing capacity and extend their industrial value chains, laying the groundwork for more sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships.

The four proposals demonstrate China's commitment to deeper mining cooperation with Africa and offer practical guidance for building open, inclusive and mutually beneficial international partnerships, Ma said.

African-led solutions key to resolving regional hotspots

During his talks with Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, Xi put forward four principles for the constructive participation of all parties in the settlement of hotspot issues in Africa, respectively adhering to the principle of "Africa-led," upholding fairness and justice, promoting the cessation of hostilities for peace, and addressing both symptoms and root causes.

Ma said the four-point proposal reflects China's constructive engagement in African affairs, addressing the continent's needs while offering insights for resolving regional and global conflicts.

Upholding African leadership recognizes that Africans are best placed to understand and resolve their own problems, a principle that is particularly important amid intensifying major-power competition on the continent, he said.

Promoting fairness and justice in line with the purposes and principles of the United Nations is essential to sustainable conflict resolution. Without it, efforts to resolve disputes are unlikely to achieve lasting results, Ma emphasized.

He added that promoting peace through dialogue underscores the importance of political solutions and negotiations, while addressing both immediate challenges and root causes highlights the need to link peace with long-term development.

Together, the four principles reflect China's strategic thinking on peace and security in Africa and provide a framework for deeper China-Africa cooperation in these areas, Ma said.