Africa -China Review Africa -China Cooperation and Transformation
Published: June 06,2023
By Dr. LU Qiuyi
It is of profound global significance for China and Africa to join hands to implement global development initiative (GDI). The bottleneck of global economic development lies in the failure of developing countries to achieve full and effective development. Therefore, the key to promoting global economic rebalancing lies in addressing the development needs of the vast developing countries, so as to fully unleash the potential of world economic development and achieve common prosperity.
As the continent with the largest number of developing countries in the world, the development of Africa is currently a key direction and a difficult point to push global development towards a new stage of balance, coordination and inclusiveness. Many African countries have yet to fully enjoy the development dividends and opportunities brought by globalization. In view of this, Africa can be said to be a best practice field and an important observation window for the implementation of global development initiative.
China is the largest developing country in the world, with a combined population of 2.8 billion with Africa, accounting for about 35% of the world’s population. Therefore, it is of great global significance for China and Africa to join hands for common development and common prosperity. It can not only build up strong momentum for the rise of developing countries as a whole, and for more balanced international relations, but also contribute to the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, narrowing the North-South development gap, and promoting the reform and innovation of the global governance system. In this regard, China and Africa join hands to implement global development initiative and create a new cooperation model, which has positive and far-reaching significance for solving the most fundamental problems facing global economic development.
There is a strong impetus for China and Africa to jointly advance the global development initiative. For Africa, China is an important strategic partner for its development. Since 2009, China has been Africa’s largest trading partner for 14 years in a row. The strong complementarity of trade structure has become the main internal driving force for our sustained cooperation.
China is also one of Africa’s most important sources of investment. Statistics in 2021 show that Chinese domestic investors have set up over 3,400 OFDI enterprises in 52 African countries (regions), covering 86.7% of Africa. They have become an important force in promoting the inclusive economic development of African countries.
At present, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China are regarded by most African countries as reliable forces for implementing their development plans and better integrating into the global economic system. This can be seen from African countries’ active efforts to seek closer cooperation with China and their increased willingness to align development strategies in recent years. And China is also an active supporter of Africa’s increased strategic autonomy. Its principles of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs and respecting the will of African countries have been widely recognized.
What is more important and has been neglected is that the Chinese leadership has attached great importance to Africa for a long time, which has played an indelible role in elevating Africa’s position in the global development pattern and its visibility on the international stage. This is very important for Africa, which has been considered to be on the “periphery” of world development for a long time.
Africa is also a strategic force for China. In terms of economy, although Africa’s contribution to China’s external economic volume is still relatively low, as shown in 2021 data, Africa’s volume in China’s foreign trade only accounts for less than 4% of the total global trade with China and takes up 1.6% of China’s foreign direct investment stock. But this does not reflect Africa’s role in China’s efforts to promote a new development paradigm with domestic economy and international engagement providing mutual reinforcement, and the former as the mainstay. On the contrary, the huge development potential of the Africa is quite attractive for China to build a new development paradigm. In particular, its natural resource endowment, demographic dividend, eye-catching market potential and investment demand play a special role in stabilizing, strengthening and shaping China’s supply chain, which can hardly be replaced by other continents in the medium and long term.
At the political level, African countries are the most important source of support for resisting international anti-China smear campaign and have provided strong support on issues involving China’s core interests and major concerns. In international affairs, the 54 African countries, accounting for more than a quarter of the total UN membership, are playing an important role in securing favorable international support and reshaping the new global balance. Furthermore, the report at the 20th Party Congress of CPC proposed to “comprehensively build a modern socialist country and comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation”. Although the foothold of relevant development goals is based on China, they are closely linked to global development. After the 20th Party Congress, how China should, in the process of realizing the goal of Chinese-style modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, join hands with other countries to achieve common development and prosperity, so as to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
It is one of the important directions for China to participate in promoting world peace and development and building a new development pattern. Under this proposition, Africa will play an increasingly important role in China’s diplomacy, and China-Africa cooperation will become an important starting point for China to shape a new type of international relations, promote South-South cooperation, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. Deepening China-Africa cooperation and actively implementing global development initiatives will not only help build an even closer China-Africa community with a shared future, but also inject more impetus and positive energy into global development and stability.
Dr. LU Qiuyi is an assistant researcher at the Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University– China
