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Nyaradzo Munjanja-Herald Correspondent

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) kicked off in Beijing, China, yesterday taking relations between the Asian economic giant and African countries a step further.

The attendance at the forum by most African leaders, including President Mnangagwa, clearly indicates the major role China is playing in the continent’s progress.

The theme for FOCAC 2024 is “Joining Hands to Advance Modernisation and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future”.

Over the past decades, China has emerged as an influential player on the global stage and its relationship with African countries has seen significant growth on the continent.

Historically, China’s engagement with Africa has been concentrated on political support during decolonisation, but this has since evolved to economic cooperation in recent years.

The FOCAC, established in 2000, is the anchor of this new focus that has seen trade, investment and development promoting mutual collaboration between China and African countries.

In fact, Chinese President Xi Jinping has shown a strong commitment to deepening China’s engagement with Africa through initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the FOCAC Summit.

As pointed out above, the importance of African leaders attending the FOCAC 2024 cannot be overstated.

There is an opportunity to engage directly with Chinese officials and business leaders and discuss ways of enhancing economic cooperation.

By participating in the forum, African leaders can articulate their countries’ priorities and interests, thereby shaping the agenda for future collaboration.

FOCAC 2024 allows the African leaders to explore new avenues for investment and trade with China, as the world’s second-largest economy.

It has since been proven that China offers significant opportunities for African countries to access funding, technology and markets for their products.

By engaging with Chinese partners at the forum, African leaders can identify potential projects and partnerships that could drive growth and development in their respective countries.

While in Beijing, African leaders get a platform through FOCAC to address any concerns or challenges that may arise from their relationship with China as equal partners.

Since its establishment, FOCAC has played a crucial role in strengthening the relationship between China and Africa, promoting economic development, fostering mutual understanding, deepening cooperation and achieving shared goals.

All key figures important in enhancing China-Africa relations are in Beijing and these include leaders from China and African countries, representatives from international organisations, business leaders, and civil society.

These play a crucial role in shaping the outcomes of FOCAC and determining the future direction of China-Africa cooperation. By working together and leveraging their respective strengths, key figures in FOCAC can unlock new opportunities for growth and development in both regions.

There is no doubt that the impact of FOCAC 2024 will be felt across a wide range of areas, including trade, investment, infrastructural development and people-to-people exchanges.

By deepening cooperation in these areas, FOCAC can contribute to economic growth, poverty reduction and sustainable development in both China and Africa.

Additionally, FOCAC promotes greater understanding and cooperation between the people of China and Africa, strengthening cultural ties and building bridges between the two regions.

President Xi has emphasised the importance of win-win cooperation and mutual benefit in China’s relationship with Africa, as well as the need to support Africa’s development goals.

This stance shows China’s commitment to helping African countries move forward through modernisation and industrialisation.

Importance of FOCAC

FOCAC has become a platform where representatives from the Chinese government and African countries come together to discuss matters of mutual interest and cooperation. It has become a key mechanism for fostering ties between China and African nations.

Its major aim is to promote economic and social development in Africa through trade, investment, and technical assistance.

The benefits of FOCAC to Africa are manifold. One of the most significant benefits is increased investments from China, which have helped to bridge Africa’s infrastructure gap and spur economic growth.

Chinese investments in sectors such as energy, transportation and telecommunications have contributed to job creation and improved living standards in many African countries.

Additionally, FOCAC has facilitated technology transfer and skills development through various training programmes and exchange initiatives.

Another benefit of FOCAC is enhanced trade relations between China and Africa.

China has become Africa’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade volumes reaching billions of dollars annually. This has provided African countries with access to Chinese markets and helped to diversify their export base.

FOCAC has promoted cultural exchange and people-to-people ties between China and Africa, fostering greater mutual understanding and cooperation.

Looking ahead, the future of FOCAC holds promise for further deepening China-Africa cooperation. With the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, China has sought to strengthen infrastructure connectivity and economic ties with Africa, offering new opportunities for growth and development.

As FOCAC continues to evolve, it will ensure more benefits of cooperation are realised in a sustainable and inclusive manner.

The pillars for FOCAC are mainly rooted in the spirit of win-win cooperation, mutually beneficial programmes and strategic cooperation.

China has a deliberate industrial promotion initiative with African countries, whose aim is to ensure that countries on the continent catch up with those from other regions in terms of accelerated industrial development.

Already, Chinese companies are being encouraged to invest on the continent, especially through setting up industrial parks, technological and special economic zones.

A number of Chinese firms are already involved in this industrial development in many African countries, including Zimbabwe.

These companies are bringing in high level machinery and new technologies that assist in the production of goods and the implementation of developmental projects.

Cooperation has been enhanced in areas such as energy, transport, information, telecommunications and water resources through various models of assistance.

In Zimbabwe, a number of Chinese firms have entered into partnerships with local organisations to work on huge infrastructure projects like the on-going construction of Lake Gwayi-Shangani and Kunzvi Dam.

In the energy sector, Sinohydro carried out the expansion of the Kariba South Hydro Power Station and worked on Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 7 and 8, while Power China was selected to implement the Batoka Gorge hydroelectric project.

Several other projects have been undertaken by Chinese companies in Zimbabwe, including the upgrading of Victoria Falls International Airport and Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, both undertaken by China Jiangsu International.

The Chinese market is increasingly recognising African products, with high volumes traded items like rubber, cotton and coffee.

There has been a strengthening of exchanges and cooperation on market regulation between customs authorities from China and African countries.

China has been openly sharing its development practices with African countries and supporting cooperation on economic and social development planning.

A number of training programmes have been carried out to capacitate officials from African countries to carry out developmental programmes, learning from the Chinese experience, its successes and failures.

Without involving the people, cooperation between China and African countries cannot be easily improved to the desired levels. Interconnectivity among African people and their Chinese counterparts is important in helping erase misconceptions that may arise as the two sides cooperate in various fields.

For a more prosperous future, China and Africa are enhancing the existing people-to-people relations to increase understanding among citizens.

All this is done under the auspices of FOCAC, a triennial high-level forum held between African countries and China to discuss and review various cooperation agreements and enhance relations between the two sides.