The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held in Beijing from September 4 to 6, 2024. As noted by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement, it is “the largest diplomatic event China has hosted in recent years, with the highest attendance of foreign leaders” and “another grand reunion of the China-Africa big family”.
Looking back at China-Africa friendship, it can be said that “China and African countries have been true friends through thick and thin”. Africa played a unique role in the process of the People’s Republic of China restoring its international status.
Both the 1955 Bandung Conference and the restoration of the lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations in 1971 were of crucial significance, laying a solid foundation for China to play a greater role on the global stage. For China, helping African countries develop within its capacity is a subtle yet direct way of giving back.
Due to various historical, geographical, and political factors, some regions in Africa remain deeply mired in poverty, with basic survival needs unmet, leading to overall developmental stagnation. Weak economic foundations, underdeveloped infrastructure, political instability, rampant disease, poor sanitation, and an incomplete legal system have made most countries around the world hesitant to invest in Africa, further hindering its economic growth.
As a fellow Third World country, China began providing aid and investment to Africa as early as the 1950s and 1960s. Sharing common political goals of resisting aggression and colonialism, as well as a history of striving for national independence and liberation, China wholeheartedly committed to assisting Africa even during its own early stages of development. Since then, the friendship between China and Africa has only grown stronger.
By contrast, the sarcastic remarks from the Western countries mocking and defaming the FOCAC seem particularly ridiculous. They often make empty promises to Africa, offering much but delivering little. From the Obama administration’s “Power Africa” initiative to the Trump administration’s “Prosper Africa” initiative, and now the plans put forward by the Biden administration, the U.S. has consistently made empty promises to Africa. Moreover, the U.S. often attaches harsh political and power conditions to the investment, and if African countries fail to meet these conditions, the investment might be canceled or even used as a pretext to blame the African countries. In reality, the U.S. is not genuinely concerned about the development needs of African countries; rather, it seeks to pull them into its own camp to maintain its hegemony.
“The more friends, the better; the fewer enemies, the better”—this is China’s political wisdom. China focuses on win-win cooperation, unlike the West, which use hegemonic means to exploit others. This is also why China is more welcomed in Africa and other developing countries compared to the West. As African countries continue to advance infrastructure development, the continent is showing renewed vitality. The U.S. has begun waging a “war of public opinion”, attacking and smearing China’s investments in Africa. However, the more the Western countries try to obstruct China, the more it proves that China is on the right path.
China promotes the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, aiming to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity. This also reflects China’s commitment to the ancient wisdom of “when successful, one tries to help others benefit.” The Belt and Road Initiative serves as an important practical platform for realizing the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, with Africa being a key participant.
With the successful convening of the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China-Africa cooperation is set to further advance, and the traditional friendship between China and Africa will endure and grow stronger through challenges.
Source: thepressngr.com
