Seven quick takeaways on Xi's keynote speech at FOCAC, Beijing declaration, and action plan

An all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing. A declaration on jointly building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era and an action plan of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) for the next three years were adopted at the summit.

1.Keynote speech - New positioning of China-Africa relations

I propose that bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the level of strategic relations, and that the overall characterization of China-Africa relations be elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

This is the first time China has combined "all-weather 全天候" with the concept of a "community with a shared future" as a new term. Previously, the term "all-weather" appeared to be used for non-major countries that are strategically significant in various regions, are somewhat unique, and are relatively friendly towards China. Countries like Hungary, Belarus, Venezuela, Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Uzbekistan are among those currently included in the names of partnerships established with China that feature the phrase "all-weather." However, these relationships' names are not entirely identical. Earlier this year, the South China Morning Post published an interesting article analyzing the differences in the names and meanings of partnerships China has established with other countries.

2.Keynote speech - A wave of modernization in the Global South

Modernization is an inalienable right of all countries. But the Western approach to it has inflicted immense sufferings on developing countries. Since the end of World War II, Third World nations, represented by China and Africa countries, have achieved independence and development one after another, and have been endeavoring to redress the historical injustices of the modernization process ... Africa is also awakening again, and the continent is marching in solid strides toward the modernization goals set forth in the AU’s Agenda 2063. China and Africa’s joint pursuit of modernization will set off a wave of modernization in the Global South, and open a new chapter in our drive for a community with a shared future for mankind.

It reminds me of a recent BBC piece. China excels at identifying its historical commonalities with Africa.

With pomp and splendour, China has welcomed more than 50 Africans leaders to Beijing this week for a summit to strengthen ties at a time of increasing political and economic turmoil around the world.

“It appeals to their vanities,” Macharia Munene, a Kenya-based professor of international relations tells the BBC, referring to the red carpet welcome - spiced up with entertainment by dancers in colourful costumes - that the leaders received.

The optics were carefully choreographed to make the leaders feel that it is a meeting of equals.

Many of them - including South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa and Kenya's William Ruto - held one-to-one meetings with their Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and were given tours of Beijing and other cities at the heart of China's development ahead of the summit.

As Prof Munene puts it, China's aim is to show African leaders that "we are in the same boat, we are all victims of Western imperialism".

In the context of great power competition, Europe and America's focus on Africa has increased, but there may be little progress in terms of tangible results. Experts on European and American investment in Africa are welcome to share your perspectives. In my recent podcast episode featuring Professor Tang Xiaoyang from Tsinghua University, Prof. Tang said that

"I would say after the Trump administration, the U.S. are trying to avoid the pick-side policy, and then they try to reduce their very clear target at China. They are now saying, we want to work together. To be honest, their real effort in investing in Africa is not very concrete or materialized yet. So although they are talking a lot about the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), and also they talked about the Lobito Corridor—which aims to build a railway in Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Europe talk about the Global Gateway initiative, but so rather a lot of political gestures, or MoUs (Memorandum of Understandings) around this initiative. To be frank, I haven't just seen real any projects implemented under these initiatives. So at least, the U.S. and Europe, they should speed up their implementation so that Africa can see some real projects.”

Prof. Tang Xiaoyang on China-Africa dynamics and the FOCAC Summit

3.Keynote speech - Six "jointly advance modernization"

—We should jointly advance modernization that is just and equitable. In promoting modernization, we should not only follow the general rules, but also act in light of our national realities. China is ready to increase exchanges of governance experience with Africa, support all countries in exploring modernization paths befitting their national conditions, and help ensure equal rights and equal opportunities for all countries.

—We should jointly advance modernization that is open and win-win. Mutually beneficial cooperation is the sunny road to the betterment of long-term and fundamental interests of all countries. China is ready to deepen cooperation with Africa in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment, promote exemplary, high-quality Belt and Road cooperation projects, and build together a model for the delivery of the Global Development Initiative.

—We should jointly advance modernization that puts the people first. The ultimate goal of modernization is the free and full development of human beings. China will work vigorously with Africa to promote personnel training, poverty reduction and employment, enhance the sense of gain, happiness and security of the people in the course of modernization, and ensure that all will benefit from the process.

—We should jointly advance modernization featuring diversity and inclusiveness. Well-balanced material and spiritual advancement is a lofty objective of modernization. China will enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges with Africa, champion mutual respect, inclusiveness and coexistence of different civilizations on our way to modernization, and strive together for more fruitful outcomes under the Global Civilization Initiative.

—We should jointly advance modernization that is eco-friendly. Green development is a hallmark of modernization in the new era. China is ready to help Africa build “green growth engines,” narrow the gap in energy accessibility, adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and jointly push for the global transition to green and low-carbon development.

—We should jointly advance modernization underpinned by peace and security. Modernization would not be possible without a peaceful and stable environment for development. China is ready to help Africa improve its capacity in safeguarding peace and stability independently, prioritize Africa in implementing the Global Security Initiative (GSI), promote mutual reinforcement of high-quality development and greater security, and work together with Africa to uphold world peace and stability.

For someone who is familiar with the five distinctive characteristics of Chinese modernization raised in the 2022 Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, you might find the above six features characterizing China-Africa jointly advancing modernization highly corresponding. The latter two, namely "We should jointly advance modernization that is eco-friendly" and "We should jointly advance modernization underpinned by peace and security", echo to two characteristics of Chinese modernization, "modernization of harmony between humanity and nature" and "modernization of peaceful development."

In the fourth feature about diversity and inclusiveness, it is stated that "well-balanced material and spiritual advancement is a lofty objective of modernization," which could also correlate to Chinese modernization as "it is the modernization of material and cultural-ethical advancement."

In light of trans-national and cross-regional cooperation in advancing modernization, the newly proposed six features take into account of the diverse national realities as "China is ready to support all countries in exploring modernization paths befitting their national conditions." Besides, universal guiding principles for different countries are also included to better synergize the cooperation.

4. Keynote speech - Ten partnership actions

First, the Partnership Action for Mutual Learning among Civilizations.

Second, the Partnership Action for Trade Prosperity.

Third, the Partnership Action for Industrial Chain Cooperation.

Fourth, the Partnership Action for Connectivity.

Fifth, the Partnership Action for Development Cooperation.

Sixth, the Partnership Action for Health.

Seventh, the Partnership Action for Agriculture and Livelihoods.

Eighth, the Partnership Action for People-to-People Exchanges.

Ninth, the Partnership Action for Green Development.

Tenth, the Partnership Action for Common Security.

To implement the ten partnership actions, the Chinese government will provide RMB360 billion yuan (about 50.7 billion U.S. dollars) of financial support through the next three years. This breaks down into RMB210 billion yuan of credit line, RMB80 billion yuan of assistance in various forms, and at least RMB70 billion yuan of investment in Africa by Chinese companies. In addition, China will encourage and support Africa in issuing panda bonds in China to enhance our results-oriented cooperation in all areas.

At the FOCAC summit in 2015, China put forward 10 major cooperation plans covering areas such as industrialization, agricultural modernization, infrastructure, financial services and green development. The plans were fully implemented. They were followed up by eight major initiatives launched at the FOCAC summit in 2018, and nine programs announced at the opening ceremony of the 8th FOCAC ministerial conference held in Senegal in 2021. Now we have the ten partnership actions. It is evident that China's cooperation with Africa is characterized by strong rhythmic and phased goals, and I believe that China will never withdraw from Africa.

5. “Beijing declaration” -- Against "decoupling"

China and Africa will continue to uphold the core values and fundamental principles of the World Trade Organization (WTO), opposing "decoupling and breaking supply chains," and resisting unilateralism and protectionism ...

We condemn the unilateral coercive measures imposed by some developed countries that undermine the sustainable development rights of developing nations. We oppose unilateralism and protectionism, such as the carbon border adjustment mechanism, which is implemented under the pretext of addressing climate change and protecting the environment.

As the beneficiaries of the economic globalization, China and Africa stand against attempts at decoupling or severing supply chains. Against the backdrop of ever complex and turbulent geopolitical situations, considering the investment prospects and development of Chinese businesses in Africa, especially in terms of Chinese companies setting up EV production plants in Africa, this stance of the two sides will be foreseeably consistent in the long run.

6. Action plan -- Green and sustainable way of energy cooperation

The African side appreciates China for assisting Africa in carrying out green development and environmental protection projects and building low-carbon demonstration zones in Africa, and is willing to explore with China a green and sustainable way of energy cooperation. China will encourage investments in a range of renewable energy projects across Africa, including solar, wind, green hydrogen, hydroelectric, geothermal power initiatives. China and African countries will promote the exchanges of expertise, best practices, and innovative solutions in renewable energy, implement comprehensive capacity-building programs to empower African professionals, entrepreneurs, and communities in the renewable energy sector.

The highlighted part showed that China's cooperation with Africa in the field of green development has received endorsement from African nations. In fact, the prospects for China-Africa collaboration in this area are indeed vast. China has already developed a relatively mature model of green development, while Africa is exploring pathways toward sustainable development.

7.Action plan - Female empowerment

The two sides will strengthen exchanges and cooperation in gender equality and women’s empowerment, support high-level women’s dialogue and seminars, hold the China-Africa Women’s Forum, provide small amounts of assistance to women, and conduct capacity-building programs for African women, so as to jointly promote the well-rounded development of women. China and Africa will provide access to finance, training, and mentorship programs specifically tailored to women entrepreneurs and business owners, ensure the participation of women in decision-making processes within industries and supply chains, recognizing their contributions and amplifying their voices.

During the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, a conference themed "Join hands to empower women through education in China and Africa" was held in Beijing on Thursday. Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping and UNESCO special envoy for the advancement of girls' and women's education, delivered a speech at the event. Also present at the conference were 26 spouses and representatives of the African countries' leaders who are attending the summit. Wang Yaping, China's first female astronaut to work in the country's space station, spoke as a representative of outstanding Chinese women.

It's also on today's Xinwen Lianbo, a daily news program produced by China Media Group.

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