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Correspondent 

The just-released Chinese government white paper, “A Global Community of Shared Future: China’s Proposals and Actions”, is important for Africa because  it demonstrates how the philosophy and approach benefits the continent.

Already, Africa as a continent has benefited from China’s goal-driven approach and was the first region where the philosophy was practiced. 

The philosophy, first proposed by President Xi Jinping 10 years ago, incorporates the Chinese approach of building mutually beneficial, win-win co-operation with all countries of the world to achieve harmonious, peaceful development and coexistence based on true multilateralism.

It is a unique approach that takes into account various political, social and economic imperatives, which President Xi has deftly weaved into a tapestry of ideas and initiatives that seek to unite the world, with China providing leadership without necessarily seeking hegemonism or global dominance. 

As such, China has become a moral and persuasive force for good, little wonder, then, that the concept and language of a global shared future for mankind has become part of international relations language and praxis. 

For Africa, there is a special connection with the concept.

The China-Africa community of shared future was the first regional proposal, according to the white paper. 

It values sincerity and equality, pursues both friendship and interests and puts friendship first, takes a people-oriented approach in pursuing practical and efficient cooperation, and follows an open and inclusive approach to cooperation. 

It has set a good example of China and African countries building a community of shared future, the paper says. 

The white paper recognises close relationship between the concept of the global shared future for mankind with African philosophy.

The document cites the African philosophy of Ubuntu which holds that “I am because we are,” emphasising interdependence of humanity. Further, another African proverb states that, “One single pillar is not sufficient to build a house.” 

A country such as Zimbabwe where these truisms hold strongly, attaches strong importance to the philosophy and pragmatism of China-Africa relations. 

Shared interests

On top of, and through these philosophical underpinnings, China and Africa enjoy strong cooperation that underlines why the two sides have grown closer and fonder over the years. 

During the 2018 FOCAC meeting in Beijing, President Xi explained that China had followed the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests. 

He explained that China had stood with African countries and worked in unity and forged ahead.

“To respond to the call of the times, China takes it its mission to make new and even greater contribution to mankind,” Xi said. 

China will work with other countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind, forge partnerships across the world, enhance friendship and co-operation, and explore a new path of growing state-to-state relations based on mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win co-operation.

“Our goal is to make the world a place of peace and stability and life happier and more fulfilling for all.”

Quoting a Chinese saying that, “The ocean is vast because it rejects no rivers”, Xi said: “China, the world’s largest developing country, and Africa, the continent with the largest number of developing countries, have long formed a community with a shared future. Indeed, we share a common stake. China will work with Africa to achieve our shared goal of building a closer China-Africa community with a shared future and turn it into a pacesetter for building such a community for mankind.”

Thus, the two sides have made remarkable strides in making this dream a reality. 

Pathways to a shared future between China and Africa 

This is not just rhetoric. 

Xi proposed six major ways in which the two side could build a China-Africa community with a shared future — and a number of these practical ways have been effected over the years. 

These include increase in political and policy dialogue at various levels, enhancing mutual understanding and support on issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns, and boost co-ordination on major international and regional issues; win-win co-operation and complementarity between respective development strategies between Africa and China through the Belt and Road Initiative. 

China, through the Belt and Road Initiative has supported the AU Agenda 2063, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the development programmes of African countries.

The third aspect in building a China-Africa community with a shared future is anchored on mutual help and solidarity with China pledging to do more to help Africa alleviate poverty, pursue development, increase employment and income, and better the lives of its people.

Fourthly, the China-Africa community with a shared future has been seen through cultural prosperity which is being done through exchanges, mutual learning and harmonious co-existence of the two sides’ civilisations through more people-to-people exchanges in culture and art, education, sports, and between our think tanks, the media, and women and young people.

Xi also proposed building a China-Africa community with a shared future based on common security and peace. In this regard, China has supported African countries and the African Union as well as other regional organisations in Africa in solving African issues in the African way, and supporting the African peace initiative of “Silencing the Guns” which is about ensuring peace and preventing outbreaks of war. 

Lastly, Xi proposed building a China-Africa community with a shared future that promotes harmony between man and nature. In this regard, China is assisting Africa to pursue green, low-carbon, circular and sustainable development that protects “our lush mountains and lucid waters and all living beings on our planet”. 

China has pledged to strengthen exchange and co-operation with Africa on climate change, clean energy, prevention and control of desertification and soil erosion, protection of wildlife and other areas of ecological and environmental preservation. 

From philosophy to policy to practice 

What is observable and therefore remarkable is that there is a clear connect between the philosophy of President Xi and the frameworks that have been informed thereof and implemented in various countries in Africa as well as at multilateral levels. 

African countries such as Zimbabwe have had fruitful co-operation with China based on China’s various frameworks and these include the Belt and Road Initiative programme that has seen increased trade and investments as well as high quality investments in the country. Chinese investments constitute the highest source of FDI.

China has also assisted Zimbabwe through energy, transport, communications, water and health infrastructures which have helped the Southern African nation to improve its economy and livelihoods of the people. 

China has also assisted Zimbabwe by providing skills in agriculture through demonstration sites which will promote food security and improve livelihoods.

 China has assisted emergency relief in drought, floods and the Covid-19 disasters.

On people to people exchanges, Zimbabwe has seen its citizens provided with more opportunities to learn from China through exchange and educational visits while Chinese investments and immigration has seen skills being transferred to locals by Chinese people. 

Chinese companies that have invested in Zimbabwe are also doing a lot of corporate social responsibility programmes including building of roads, schools, clinics and water infrastructure. 

On top of this, a new breed of philanthropists from China are assisting vulnerable Zimbabwean community and showing unbreakable human love and connection.