By Ochiaka Ugwu
One of the most revered books today amongst scholars of history, political organisms and modernization is no doubt, “Xi Jinping: The Governance of China”. The book, which first appeared in 2014 released its fifth volume last year and it has been published in many languages chronicling some spoken and written works of Chinese President, Xi Jinping. It showcases the genuine steps taken by Communist Party of China (CPC) towards modernizing the country and at the same time offering the countries in the global south an opportunity to grow together with China in its strong and unflinching desire to build a community of mankind with shared future in the new era.
However, what interests me most in the publication as an African and ardent fan of Xi Jinping’s modernization system, is an address entitled “China-Africa Partnership in Pursuit of Modernization” found under Section: 16 “Modernization and Shared Prosperity” captured on page 534 through to 539 being a keynote speech delivered by President Xi at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summit of the Forum for China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on September 5, 2024.
The speech which is very proactive and instructive did not only demonstrate China’s honest and practical desire to work with Africa on the part of modernization, but has awakened the consciousness of Africans to stay informed on Chinese development model for the world which is all about working together in building a community with a shared future for mankind in the new era.
Recall that President Xi at the summit proposed 10 partnership actions for the next three years, including “Partnership Action for People-to-People Exchanges” which is the eight agenda. This is very informative as it clearly demonstrates that China deeply values the bond with Africa, emphasizing common interest, shared humanity, unity of purpose, show of sincerity, visible outcomes, friendship, partnership and good faith in working with the continent.
According Xi, “China and Africa account for one-third of the world population. Without our modernization, there will be no global modernization. In the next three years, China will work with Africa to take the following ten partnership actions for modernization to deepen China-Africa cooperation and spearhead the Global South modernization.
“Eighth, the Partnership Action for People-to-People Exchanges. China will implement with Africa more solidly the Future of Africa-Vocational Education Cooperation Plan, establish together an engineering technology academy, and build ten Luban Workshops. We will provide 60,000 training opportunities to Africa, mainly for women and youths. We will launch with Africa a Cultural Silk Road program as well as an initiative of cooperation on innovation in radio, TV and audio and visual programs. The two sides have agreed to designate 2026 as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges” he said.
This calls to mind, the unshaken partnership, mutually beneficial gains that have taken China-Africa cooperation to an enviable height. By declaring 2026 as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges which carries a strategic weight, China has demonstrated another practical approach towards raising multifaceted relations with Africa, assuring African leaders, experts, entrepreneurs, stakeholders, academics, women, youth groups and researchers of its unwavering commitments towards African development and modernization which has so far shown noticeable achievements.
Evidently, it shows that China is ever ready to expand exchanges and cooperation in areas such as the economy and trade, health, agriculture, tourism, and people-to-people ties which they have intensified in recent times.
With an explicit purpose and sharpened position to its partnerships with Africa, China and Africa have cooperation of true partnership, support and mutual benefit.
China has remained committed to the expansion of mutual political, economic, and humanitarian contacts and pledged continued assistance to the people of Africa in their ambition to develop, to actively participate and made their voices heard in international affairs.
Truth be told, China is living up its pledges as it is really injecting a new dynamism in the existing China-Africa relations. These moves aim, primarily, to uplift and solidly support the entire scale of relations into a new stage, change perception among the China and African public and give China-African relations an entirely new outlook into the near future.
No doubt China, has continued to give all-round support for initiatives aimed at strengthening relations between China and Africa. China has spoken up for closer interaction with Africa and has welcomed our products in their large and expending market occasioned by free tariff extended to African nations that have relations with it.
Although, the success of the free tariff much depends on the reciprocity of African businesses and their readiness to show initiative and ingenuity, as well as to offer quality goods and services, but also Africa has China to thank for extending this helping hand which is more than benevolence.
In practical reality, Africa has to choose between symbolism and concrete alternatives to attaining their development sovereignty by exploring the opportunities of growth and development presented by China.
For Africa, practical partnerships have to move beyond geopolitical symbolism, shift away from the stage of rhetoric to a different stage of interests in implementing agreements to measure results of cooperation and development growth. Collaboration with China has moved to a broader level of identifying economic opportunity and followed by an investment posture, a show of valuable engagement over mere rhetoric. China is visibly acting its talks, which have shown noticeable positive and impacting outcomes in its dealings with Africa. In a geopolitical framework, Africa now has suitable external alternatives.
In the same summit, President Xi out-mapped priorities with Africa in the following spheres: Mutual Learning among Civilizations, Trade Prosperity, Industrial Chain Cooperation, Infrastructure Connectivity Projects, Development Cooperation, Hospitals Alliance and Joint Medical Centers, Agriculture and Livelihoods., Green Development, and Common Security.
Moreover, China doesn’t have the same interest in African like the west that will even go extra miles to infringe on the sovereignty of nations. China is well committed to non-interference and mutual respect which best explains why President Xi initiated the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) that has been adopted by most nations of the world. Absolutely,
China is resource-rich and wealthy itself and always looking to extend a hand of development and transformation to the neediest nations of the world. Africa has to ensure its own economic sovereignty and it is important to note that China’s interest is only to support Africa to gain an economic power in the emerging multipolar world.
Another area of Xi’s speech that deserves attention, is the promise of providing 60,000 training opportunities to Africa, mainly for women and youths and launching with Africa a Cultural Silk Road program as well as an initiative of cooperation on innovation in radio, TV and audio and visual programs.
The China International Communications Group (CICG) is greatly providing quality and active trainings through the instrumentality of its world class resource persons. These egg heads had not only imparted knowledge on participants, but have really created a Chinese model of interaction and assimilation in their consciousness making most of the participants if not all from Africa to always advocate for Communist Party of China (CPC) Ideology and Chinese model of governance to be replicated in their various countries of origin based on their peculiar national condition.
Amid these gains of friendship, President Xi Jinping messages to African leaders beginning with letter of congratulation on the launch of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, a reply to veterans of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, and a congratulatory message to the African Union Summit for the 14th year running early this year, clearly shows that China is incurable addicted to Africa’s wellbeing by always celebrating their progress and standing with them when it matters most.
This singular act of human solidarity proves that President Xi still recognizes the unbroken and strong friendship with Africa in the new era.
It is also important to note that for 70 years, China-Africa relation has stood the test of time and has grown in bounds and leap. It has become a tradition for China’s Foreign Minister to commence his yearly activities with first visit to Africa. This practice that has been on for unbroken 36 years shows that China is more than a partner but a friend with benefits.
Without mincing words, the proposed People-To-People Exchanges has already started yielding fruits and will surely continue to open new grounds in China, Africa partnership.
China has played host to some Africa leaders and personalities with the aim of promoting China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era. The zero-tariff market access for 100 percent of African imports begun in May 1st.
This has boosted trade relations between the two nations with African businessmen enhancing their full potentials following this vital economic window which has spread prosperity within the region.
It must be stressed that China since inception of relations with Africa has always stood together through thick and thin and moved forward side by side with its Africa brother strongly relying on the popular African saying “If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.
China has always shown its readiness to work with his African friend to make a statement of win-win cooperation, mutual respect, benefit and understanding to enhance modernization and development in building a community of shared future for mankind.
