China-Africa cooperation under “Belt and Road” is based on consultation

Published: December 18,2023

Mr. Ma Hanzhi

I think it is the right time to talk about the topic considering the fact that 

Africa is currently facing severe infrastructuregaps and the fact that the next year, will be the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. The “the Belt and Road” initiative has aroused the international community’s great attention to Africa’s infrastructure. 

In recent years, the United States and Western countries have obviously increased their attention to infrastructure construction in Africa. For example, the G7 group recently proposed the “Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment” (PGII). Of course, another important factor is that China-Africa “Belt and Road” cooperation has created good conditions for the United States and the west to increase investment in infrastructure in Africa

A large number of infrastructure built through the “Belt and Road” initiative cooperation between China and Africa have become fixed assets of African countries, and no one can move them away. The explicit and implicit influence of a large number of infrastructure will gradually play a role. Therefore, it is too early to judge whether these infrastructures have shown all their influence.

China-Africa cooperation under “Belt and Road” is based on “consultation, sharing and joint construction”, and fully respects Africa’s autonomy. In fact, China is shaping respect for Africa’s autonomy into a new norm, which has laid a foundation for Africa to adhere to its independent position in international cooperation in the future. The Chinese people are well aware that Africa’s own development needs are best understood by itself.

China-Africa cooperation under “Belt and Road” requires more efforts to transform the “memorandum of cooperation” into a cooperation plan, and then from the cooperation plan to specific projects. China is unable to fully shoulder the responsibility of infrastructure construction in Africa. China sincerely welcomes international cooperation among three or more parties.

The construction of the “the Belt and Road” is ultimately a process of connecting facilities, achieving people to people exchanges, learning from each other, and breaking prejudice, discrimination and misunderstanding. To open up a path for a better future for mankind through international cooperation. The practice of the United States and the West in engaging in small circles, confrontation and zero sum games should be completely buried in the garbage heap of history.

Obviously, China is unable to fully shoulder the heavy responsibility of infrastructure construction in Africa. China welcomesinternational cooperation through three or more parties.

I think Africa’s development needs support of the international community. China welcomedand created the circumstance for the international community to give more attention to Africa’s development, to Africa’s lack of infrastructure. You know that recently, Africa’s continuation of the free trade area is beginning and we noticed that lack of infrastructure, for example;   electricity and transport.  Many of these need investment, they need money, need support of the international community. So, I think that China   welcomes international cooperation.

This is also the Chinese experience, you know that China has 31 provinces, and all the provinces are very big. Without infrastructureconnections, you would notice isolation and disconnection between the provinces.  But, through the infrastructure connection, the love for the state, and their identity, I think it is very important for China, our story, and for the rest of the world. 

Over the years, China’s Communist Party has put forward China-Africa cooperation. We hold Africa dearly in our hearts. So, we can expand, we can get our relationship more and more close. 

Mr. Ma Hanzhi is an Assistant Researcher, China Institute of International Studies (CISS) Beijing.