China – Africa 20 years of mutual cooperation under FOCAC

The Forum on China-Africa cooperation (FOCAC) held its first meeting in October 2000, in China’s capital city of Beijing and at the meeting more than 40 African countries were represented. International and regional organizations numbering 17 were also invited to the conference.

At the end of the conference, “The Beijing Declaration of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation” and the “Program for China-Africa Cooperation in Economic and Social Development were the two key documents that were agreed on and signed.

 This was the beginning of a new chapter in shaping the prevailing socio-economic   and diplomatic cooperation between China and Africa.  The establishment of the “China-Africa Joint Business Council” was a great milestone in promoting trade and investment between the two sides, and financial institutions namely the African Development Bank (ADB) as well as the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank, would facilitate financial transactions on agreed on projects.

In December 2003, a second ministerial meeting took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia under the theme, Pragmatic and action-oriented co-operation’’. The Chinese Premier Jiabao who attended the meeting proposed ways to further consolidate Sino-African relations through mutual support, joint efforts in tackling  globalization challenges as well as enhanced cooperation in different aspects. The “FOCAC Addis Ababa Action Plan 2004-2006”, was the key outcome of the meeting which spelled out the future China-Africa co-operation.

In the FOCAC summit held in 2006 in Beijing, which was attended by 48 African countries, Chinese President Hu Jintao applauded the Historical Chia-Africa cooperation and the common objective of economic development and prosperity. China committed itself to stand with Africa in advancing national and international interest. The declaration signed after the meeting had key decisions that were good news for the African continent and these included;

• China’s intention to double its assistance to Africa by 2009
• Provide US$3 billion in preferential loans and US$2 billion preferential buyer credits to Africa over the next three years
• The establishment of a China-Africa Development Fund (CADF), valued at US$5 billion, to encourage Chinese companies to invest in Africa
• The building of an African Unity (AU) conference centre in Ethiopia to assist in the advancement in the objectives of African unity
• Further debt cancellation of interest free loans in the heavily indebted poor countries
• Expanding from190 to 440 in the number of export products receiving zero-tariff treatment
• Establishing five new trade and economic co-operation zones in Africa; and training 15 000 African professionals, build hospitals, malaria prevention centres, schools and double the number of Chinese scholarships offered to African students.

The 7^th and most recent FOCAC meeting at summit level, was held in September 2018, In Johannesburg, South Africa, where President Xi Jinping fulfilled China’s pledge made in 2015, by announcing a US$ 60 billion in new financing for Africa. The presence of the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, as a special guest gave the summit a global flavor.   President Xi Jinping in his speech raised concerns over protectionism and rising unilateralism while reaffirming China’s commitment to multilateral system and globalization.

 The Chinese president highlighted eight major cooperation areas for the next three years and beyond which are;

Industrial promotion initiative, Infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, green development initiative,  capacity building, healthcare, people to people exchange, as well as peace and security initiative.

The 20 years of mutual cooperation between China and Africa under FOCAC are worth celebrating as a lot has been achieved and the relations have grown stronger. In the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, China provide medical supplies to African countries for prevention and testing of the Corona Virus, and also Chinese medical experts shared experience with their African counterparts from different countries through video conferences.   

Infrastructure and industrial development has also been realized in African countries in the last two decades through projects agreements under FOCAC. It is also worth noting that China will this year realize the dream of eradicating rural poverty and China has shared with African countries vital experiences on lifting

People out of poverty.  

“China and Africa are ready to uphold the spirit of solidarity and cooperation, jointly cope with various risks and challenges, and let their cooperation shine as an example of multilateralism and mutual benefits’’,  Chinese President Xi Jinping and Senegalese President Macky Sall in a joint congratulatory message to mark FOCAC’s 20th anniversary.

Africa-China Review Editorial

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