The FOCAC Summit in September 2024 is an opportunity for this international meeting to enhance dialogue and cooperation between China and the countries of the Global South, including the countries of the African continent, under the theme “Joining Forces to Promote Modernization and Build a High-Level Community with a Shared Future between China and Africa”. This is in line with what this forum, which celebrates its 24th anniversary this year, represents as a “distinguished partnership” between China and the African continent, based on the basic principles of solidarity, cooperation, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. Especially since four high-level meetings held during the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, discussing topics such as: (high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, governance, industrialization and agricultural modernization, peace and security), etc.
Chinese President “Xi Jinping” is keen to put forward new ideas and proposals for building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, by announcing new measures and procedures for China’s practical cooperation with the African continent. The Chinese and African sides are keen to address topics such as: (state governance, industrialization and agricultural modernization, peace and security, as well as high-quality cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative).
Egypt’s high-level participation in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) through Egyptian Prime Minister “Mostafa Madbouly” is an important and necessary step, as the countries participating in the summit represent a gathering of developing African countries. Exchanges between Egypt and the forum’s member states also contribute to enhancing the exchange of experiences and implementing the principle of mutual benefit between Egypt, China, African countries and other developing economies, through successful experiences in developing countries. Not only that, but the importance of Egypt’s participation in the summit also lies in presenting Egypt’s vision on the future of Chinese-African cooperation within the framework of the forum, through Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly’s participation in the opening session of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, and a number of other high-level sessions, in addition to his speech at the session on “Industrial Transformation, Agricultural Modernization and Green Development”.
The China-Africa Summit (FOCAC) will adopt the theme of “Working together for modernization and building a community with a shared future”. The current China-Africa Summit will seek to increase mutual political trust by coordinating positions and policies to reach consensus on regional issues and global challenges in order to enhance the strength of countries in the Global South and raise the voice of developing countries.
The current China-Africa summit agenda is expected to focus on vital issues, such as: (governance, accelerating industrial and agricultural cooperation, and building sustainable partnerships within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative). After 24 years since the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), this partnership between China and Africa has achieved great successes in various fields, with a noticeable increase in the volume of trade and investment exchange between the two sides, given that Chinese-African relations have today become a model to be emulated in (South-South) cooperation, with China committed to providing the necessary support to achieve economic and social development in Africa, benefiting from its unique development experience.
Through the FOCAC summit, the Chinese government is working to enhance cooperation with Africa in the five priority areas of investment, financing, aid, African integration, civil exchange, and peace and security over the next three years, which indicates that China has listened seriously to the calls and demands of African countries, and will certainly push forward the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership to achieve further progress and development. Taking into account that the China-Africa Forum comes this year, 2024, under sensitive and complex global circumstances, with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and its economic repercussions, in addition to the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, and the potential repercussions in the event of an expansion of the conflict in the Middle East, which may affect the routes of commercial ships heading to Africa or Europe via the Red Sea.
By hosting the “FOCAC” summit, China is making greater achievements in various fields in its cooperation with various African Union countries and promoting the development of a China-Africa community with a shared future. China regards Africa as a major priority in its diplomacy, and is willing to increase political exchanges, deepen strategic mutual trust, enhance practical cooperation, share development experience, and promote common development with Africa. China is playing its leading role in the African continent, by contributing more to helping achieve modernization on the continent, as well as peace and development in the world, by helping African countries have a strong voice around the world.
The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation is an opportunity to assess the current situation and prospects of China-Africa partnership, as well as to discuss bilateral relations within the framework of the forum, in addition to discussing issues of growth and development and ways to address common challenges between China, African countries and the global South. As China and Africa affirm a new economic, political and regional alliance that will be mutually beneficial for both sides, China sees Africa as a source of raw materials and energy, which it desperately needs to support its industrial and economic growth.
China plays a prominent role in the African continent, especially through the gateway of huge investments through the giant Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, which various African countries have joined, especially in economic sectors, most notably related to infrastructure, mining, water desalination, and the transition to green energy, among others. Beijing has pledged to promote the “New Silk Roads” project in Africa, also known as the “Belt and Road,” and Africa is already a key region in this initiative. According to official figures from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, Chinese companies have concluded “contracts worth a total of more than $700 billion between 2013 and 2023,” in just ten years, in African countries.
Under the complex international circumstances, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) seeks to develop the friendly cooperation relationship between China and Africa through: mutual support by promoting the continued development of traditional friendly relations, enhancing consultation by promoting the democracy of international relations, coordinating the common positions of China and Africa to jointly face challenges and confront US hegemony and the transformation into a multipolar international world away from the concepts of conflict and cooperation, deepening the foundations of civilizational dialogue, mutual benefit and the win-win principle between China and African countries, while preparing, deepening and developing China-Africa cooperation by creating a new situation for the friendly relationship between China and Africa for a better future for humanity, a common destiny for humanity and mutual benefit between China and Africa, in accordance with the vision and philosophy of Chinese President “Xi Jinping”.
All African countries, including Egypt, have benefited from all the major initiatives proposed by Chinese President “Xi Jinping”, most notably: (the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative). We find that these initiatives, dedicated to sharing opportunities for peace and development among people around the world, are crucial to promoting unity and cooperation among the countries of the Global South and the justice of the global governance system led by China for the benefit of African and developing countries and all marginalized countries, far from conspiracy theories, conflict, American hegemony, and theories of civilizational conflict. Through them, China is establishing a “civilizational dialogue” and a transformation into a more just and equitable multipolar international world.
As an Egyptian expert in Chinese political affairs, the model of tripartite cooperation between China, Africa and Egypt, as a gateway for China to the African continent, the Middle East, and the Arab and Islamic world, is an innovative model for international partnership. Egypt, through its strategic geographical location and political stability, under the leadership of President “Abdel Fattah El-Sisi”, contributes to strengthening the ties of cooperation between China and African countries, which are not limited to the economic field only, but also include other strategic dimensions, such as: (food security, renewable energy, modern technology, and localizing Chinese industry in Egypt and then exporting it to various countries of the African continent), which provides multiple opportunities to achieve sustainable development on the African continent, by strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Egypt, and benefiting all African countries and the world of the global south.
Egypt is always a pioneer in launching initiatives that concern the African continent, such as the initiative to write off the African continent’s debts, which was called the “Sustainable Debt Alliance” initiative, to transform the debt burdens of developing countries into sustainable solutions for green recovery, which Egypt has proposed in many international forums, and called on countries and financial institutions to join this initiative, and to establish a common framework to regulate sustainable debt transactions. The Egyptian initiative has received the support and backing of many African countries.
The cooperation zones with Chinese investment, such as the China-Egypt Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone (TEDA), have greatly promoted foreign investment in African countries and helped the “Made in Africa” initiative go global through industrial clusters. In addition, 17 Luban workshops have been built in 15 African countries, boosting employment opportunities for local people. China has always been a strong promoter of exploring new paths for modernization and development in Africa, and an important contributor to opening up new paths for African countries and Egypt.
Through the “FOCAC” summit, the Chinese government seeks to make commitments to Africa, including: China continuing its assistance to Africa within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China enhancing the development of African human resources, with the desire of African countries to train more than 10,000 specialists through Chinese expertise in all different fields in the next three years until the next China-Africa summit is held three years later in 2027, with the desire of African countries to open all its markets to African products, and exempting customs duties on some goods from the least developed African countries exporting to China.
Accordingly, we understand that this China-Africa summit will be an important opportunity to cooperate with Africa on a new journey towards modernization, to advance the China-Africa community with a shared future, to write a new chapter for the friendship between the Chinese people and the people of the African continent, and to generate strong momentum for advancing global modernization.