Africa -China Review Africa -China Cooperation and Transformation
Published:January 17,2022
By Gerald Mbanda
President Xi Jinping’s speech at the 2022 virtual World Economic Forum emphasized embracing true multilateralism as well as global cooperation in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic in order to boost socio-economic recovery and development. President Jinping called on global leaders to abandon the cold mentality but instead embrace peaceful co-existence. He highlighted China’s commitment to promoting global cooperation on climate change and commitment to environmental protection. President Xi also made a call to support developing countries that have fallen back into poverty due to disruption by COVID-19 pandemic.
In his speech on Monday, full of insightful words of wisdom and quotations, President Xi noted that no one country can be able amidst global challenges to overcome on its own but need to work together with other countries. “Small boats may not survive a storm, but a giant ship is strong enough to brave a storm,” Xi said.
Xi called for equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine as the means to close the global immunization gap, to safeguard people’s lives. At a time when rich countries are hording the vaccines, China stands out in the global fight against COVID-19, where over two billion does of vaccines have been distributed to more than 120 countries and international organizations.
Xi Jinping observed that shifting blame would only cause needless delay and distraction in response to the pandemic. China still pledges to provide additional one billion doses to African countries, including 600 million doses as donation, and will also donate 150 million doses to ASEAN countries.
To explain the urgency of world countries working together and taking swift actions to overcome global challenges, President Xi mentioned that the Chinese New Year that begins in two weeks’ time is known as the year of the Tiger. A Tiger in Chinese culture, symbolizes bravery and strength. “To meet the severe challenges facing humanity, we must “add wings to the Tiger” and act with the courage and strength of the tiger to overcome all obstacles our way forward,” Xi said.
President Xi Jinping’s pledge of availing more vaccines for African countries was good news to almost all African countries which still have a big deficit of vaccines. On the African continent; only 8% of the eligible population has been vaccinated. Rich countries have shamelessly shipped vaccines with a short shelf-life, leading to expiry before use. Nigeria for example, is reported to have destroyed one million doses of expired Covid-19 vaccines in December 2021. In fact Africa is being used by rich countries as a dumping ground of expired vaccines
President Xi Jinping called on global leaders to abandon the cold mentality but instead embrace peaceful co-existence. “Confrontation does not solve problems; it only invites catastrophic consequences. Protectionism and unilateralism can protect no one; they ultimately hurt the interests of others as well as one’s own. Even worse are the practices of hegemony and bullying, which run counter to the tide of history,” Xi said. The statement complemented his WEF 2021, where he called for abandonment of ideological prejudice and jointly follows a path of peaceful coexistence, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.
A recent example of the cold war mentality, is The US “summit for Democracy” held online on December 9 and 10, which was seen as an attempt by US to isolate countries considered as enemies including China. In essence, the summit was not about democracy. The US is weaponising democracy for geopolitical strategies, dividing the world into opposing camps by ideological means. It was meant to reinforce its hegemony under the guise of democracy.
President Xi Jinping concern for developing countries that have fallen back into poverty and instability due to the COVID-19 pandemic and call to realize UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is a manifestation of China’s commitment and support of development for all, to create a better future for humanity. This is people centred philosophy in application, which is boundless for the benefit of the human race without discrimination.
Xi also highlighted China’s commitment to promote international cooperation on climate change and implementation of the outcome of COP26 to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change as well as commitment to fight environmental degradation. The two are important commitments towards mitigating the adverse effects of global warming.
Regarding the upcoming Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic games, the Chinese president assured the global community that China will present the best of the games. “We are confident that China will present a streamlined, safe and splendid Game to the world. The official motto for Beijing 2022 is “Together for a Shared Future,” Xi, said.
Gerald Mbanda is a Researcher and publisher on China and Africa
