Key takeaways underscore China-Africa solidarity and cooperation

(ECNS) -- At the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which concluded Friday, Chinese and African leaders, representatives, experts and scholars as well as foreign journalists have shared their insights on the strong China-Africa ties and the fruitful outcomes of the summit. 

Here are the key takeaways from their speeches and remarks. 

Modernization

This year's summit is themed on "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future." The keynote speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony underscores the keyword “modernization.”

Achieving modernization is the shared pursuit of China and Africa. The summit has charted a blueprint for China and Africa to jointly pursue modernization, which will further promote South-South cooperation and drive global development. 

The UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres also highlighted the partnership actions on modernization that were announced by President Xi. “China’s partnership with the African continent is the main pillar of South-South cooperation,” he said. 

During the High-level Meeting on Industrialization and Agricultural Modernization of the 2024 FOCAC Summit, African leaders praised the achievements of China-Africa cooperation in the areas of industrialization, agricultural modernization and green development.

“We welcome that China has established 24 agricultural technology demonstration centers in Africa. These provide access to advance agricultural technologies, which has increased local crop yields in a number of African countries,” said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

China-Africa cooperation has yielded fruitful results over the years. The two sides have joined hand in hand in many landmark projects that help African countries realize independent and sustainable development, including the hybrid rice variety introduced to Madagascar, the demonstration village for agricultural development and poverty alleviation built in Sao Tome and Principe as well as the 100MW Redstone concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) plant in South Africa.

As the Chinese modernization is being advanced through deepening comprehensive reforms, it will provide new opportunities and new driving forces for African countries. Underlining the tangible achievements of bilateral cooperation, Ugandan Vice President Jessica Alupo said Uganda has drawn valuable lessons from China's modernization experience.

Complementary advantages

The China-Africa economic and trade cooperation is always at the spotlight of the summit. Since 2009, China has remained Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, with bilateral trade reaching a record $282.1 billion in 2023.

During the High-level Meeting on High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation of the 2024 FOCAC Summit, Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang noted that the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Africa has demonstrated clear complementary advantages and broad cooperation prospects. 

China’s leading exports to Africa are mechanical and electrical products. In 2023, China’s export of new-energy vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products to Africa increased 291 percent, 109 percent and 57 percent year-on-year respectively. 

Agriculture has always been the mainstay in many African countries. African exports of agricultural products to China have increased for seven straight years. Last year, China’s import of nuts, vegetables, flowers and fruits from Africa went up 130 percent, 32 percent, 14 percent and 7 percent respectively.

Apart from vegetables and fruits, Africa’s special agricultural products and processed products are also well-received in the Chinese market, including coffee from Ethiopia, chilli sauce from Rwanda, black tea from Kenya, and chocolate from Ghana.

These products not only meet the diverse demand of Chinese consumers but also bring tangible benefits to African farmers.

Win-win cooperation

Statistics show that the FOCAC summit attracted over 3,000 registered journalists from China and abroad, setting a new record. When talking about the China-Africa cooperation, several foreign journalists used the word “win-win” to describe it.

Algerian journalist Fatma Zohra Ferdjani said she learned about many cooperative projects between China and Africa during her previous interviews. 

She suggested that African countries and China cooperate in health care and digital development so as to help Africa usher in development and change. 

Some African leaders and experts also believe that the China and Africa exemplify a cooperative mode that is mutually beneficial.

"As you look at our relationship with China, it is always based on values, sincerity, common good, respecting each other, win-win cooperation," said Allawi Ssemanda, executive director of Development Watch Center, a think-tank based in Uganda. 

The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has achieved complete success, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The summit has demonstrated the Global South's firm confidence in solidarity and cooperation, he added.