By Edson Baraukwa | Africa Guardian
On the sidelines of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Chinese leaders are engaging in extensive meetings and negotiations with various African leaders. The focus is on expanding cooperation in key sectors such as the digital economy, blue economy (centered on oceanic resources), and green development. Liu Yuxi, the special representative of the Chinese government on African affairs, emphasized the commitment to align economic and industrial structures, aiming for a more dynamic partnership.
During the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan to discuss multiple areas of cooperation. Earlier, on Tuesday, President Xi also met with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where the two leaders witnessed the signing of agreements on Belt and Road cooperation, the Global Development Initiative, and the export of avocados to China.
President Xi reiterated China’s readiness to work closely with African nations to ensure the 2024 FOCAC Summit serves as a milestone in China-Africa relations, setting a clear direction for modernization efforts on both sides. The summit, which runs from Wednesday to Friday, is China’s largest diplomatic event in recent years, both in scale and in the number of foreign leaders attending.
Liu Yuxi also emphasized that “history will not revert to the days of colonialism or Cold War confrontations” and that Africa should not be a battleground for major powers. He called for the international community to support Africa’s peace and development with an open-minded approach.
Trade between China and Africa reached $282.1 billion last year, with China’s total investment in the continent amounting to $40 billion. For 15 consecutive years, China has been Africa’s largest trading partner and remains its largest export destination.
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