Speech reaffirms China-Africa relations while promoting Global South progress

Chinese President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at last week's 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation reaffirmed the deepening relationship between China and Africa, and highlighted the partnership's role in shaping a fairer and more inclusive global order for development, experts say.

Xi called for China and Africa to jointly advance modernization that is just and equitable, that features diversity and inclusiveness, and to explore modernization paths befitting their national conditions.

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China will work with Africa to take the 10 partnership actions for modernization over the next three years to deepen China-Africa cooperation and spearhead the Global South modernization, he said.

"Modernization is an inalienable right of all countries," he said. "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."

Tahir Farooq, editor-in-chief of the Daily Ittehad Media Group and Pakistan Economic Net, said the speech highlighted a comprehensive and forward-thinking vision for China-Africa relations in the new era.

It solidifies the roles of China and Africa in shaping a more just and equitable global order, offering a powerful alternative to current global power dynamics, Farooq said.

The proposal to elevate the overall characterization of China-Africa relations to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era signals China's unwavering commitment to Africa's growth and positions both sides as key partners in navigating global changes, he said.

Pioneers of new model

"By emphasizing modernization as an inalienable right, especially for developing nations, the speech challenges the dominant Western narrative of development, positioning China and Africa as pioneers of a new model of progress for the Global South.

"The six pillars for modernization — justice, openness, inclusivity, people-centered development, green growth and peace — represent a comprehensive approach that places the well-being and aspirations of the people at the core of the development process."

The 10 partnership actions outlined in the speech offer a detailed road map for future collaboration, reflecting a shared vision for inclusive development and underscoring China's commitment to investing in Africa's long-term prosperity, he said.

" (Xi's) vision sets a new tone for global development, focusing on addressing immediate challenges like poverty and infrastructure gaps while laying the groundwork for long-term growth and stability."

Khaldoon Abdulla, a nonresident fellow and China Study Circle coordinator at the Asia Middle East Center for Research and Dialogue in Yemen, said the speech reflects a Chinese commitment that is driving changes in the international system.

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This commitment is evident in China's foreign policy at various levels, Abdulla said. Geopolitically, China's inclusive modernization policy prioritizes Africa and other regions neglected or exploited by the West.

Unlike the West, which focuses on normative and mandatory changes to value systems as prerequisites for partnerships, China emphasizes technical and developmental aspects, primarily infrastructure and industrialization, he said.

These are areas where the West is deficient and the target states are eager to develop. On a psychological level, China understands the mindset and aspirations of developing countries and knows how to stimulate their growth rather than attempting to reengineer them, Abdulla said.

Contact the writers at edithmutethya@chinadaily.com.cn