Africa -China Review Africa -China Cooperation and Transformation
By Gerald Mbanda
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)
Chinese president Xi Jinping pledged that his countrywill donate 600million doses of COVID-19 vaccines plus 400million doses to be provided through joint production by Chinese companies and relevant African countries. Xi made the pledge while delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) via video link.
This will be the biggest COVID-19 vaccine support ever given to African countries by a single country. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, China has provided vaccines, medical equipment, face masks among others. Chinese doctors and experts have shared experiences with African counterparts on best practices to fight the pandemic.
Regarding business and investment, Xi Jinping, saidthat China will encourage its businesses to invest not less than 10 billion US dollars in Africa in the next three years, and provide credit facilities of 10 billion US dollars to African financial institutions.
In his speech that touched on a number of historical moments and areas of cooperation between China and Africa, the Chinese president mentioned four proposals for China-Africa cooperation and nine programs that China and Africa will do together in the next three years. “ A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. As at the historic starting point of building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era,” Xi said.
The four proposals for cooperation include; fight against COVID-19 with solidarity, deepening practical cooperation, promoting green development and upholding equity and justice. Xi reminded that during the UN General Assembly this year, he put forward the Global Development Initiative, which compliments the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In the run up to the 8th ministerial conference, FOCACdelegates jointly prepared the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035, under which the following nine programs will be implemented: Medical and health, poverty reduction and agricultural development, trade promotion, investment promotion, digitalinnovation, green development, capacity building, cultural and people to people exchange and peace and security program.
On poverty reduction, China promised to undertake 10 poverty reduction and agricultural projects in Africa, and send 500 agricultural experts who will help in setting up China-Africa joint centers for modern agro technology exchange. It should be noted that China was able to eliminate absolute poverty in 2020, becoming a great inspiration to many African countries to have confidence that the war against poverty can be overcome in one generation.
Under the green development program, China will undertake 10 green development environmental protection and climate change action projects for Africa, support the development of the “Green GreenWall,” and build centres of excellence on low-carbon development and climate change adaptation, Xi promised.
Regarding the peace and security program, China pledged to undertake 10 peace and security projects in Africa continue military assistance to the AU as well as supporting African countries in maintaining regional security and fight against terrorism. China and African countries will also conduct joint exercises and on site training between Chinese and Africa peacekeeping troops.
It should be recalled that the First Ministerial Conference of FOCAC was held in Beijing in October 2000. Following the First Ministerial Conference, China cancelled RMB 10.9 billion of debts for 31 heavily indebted poor countries or least developed countries in Africa; set up the African Human Resources Development Fund, sponsored nearly 300 training courses and trained nearly 7,000 African professionals in diplomacy, economic management, national defense, agriculture, education, science and technology, culture and health.
The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has been gradually institutionalized and become an important platform for collective dialogue and an effective mechanism for enhancing practical cooperation between China and African countries. It is also a successful example of South-South cooperation.
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