Sino-African Cooperation Reaches New Level
Problems nevertheless persist in Africa. Military coups and terrorist activities in certain countries disrupt social and political order, threaten everyday life and deter foreign investment. The Ebola epidemic in Western Africa is showing substantive damaging effects on local economies. Other obstacles to African social and economic development include inequality in the international political and economic order, faults in state governance such as corruption and low efficiency, impediments to regional connectivity, such as custom clearance, migration and infrastructure, insufficient foreign investment, and disease.
Frequent High-level Reciprocal Visits
The marked progress of Sino-African cooperation in 2014 is manifest in three aspects – high-level reciprocal visits, six cooperative programs and extended social and cultural cooperation in such areas as poverty reduction and medical aid.
In his May visit to Africa Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called on the two sides to stick to four principles: treating each other sincerely and equally, consolidating solidarity and mutual trust, jointly pursuing inclusive development, and promoting innovation in bilateral practical cooperation. He identified six areas – industry, finance, poverty reduction, ecological conservation, people-to-people exchanges, and peace and security – on which the two sides should focus. Li suggested an upgraded version of Sino-African cooperation that will elevate their comprehensive cooperative partnership to a new level by making good use of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation platform.
A highlight of the premier’s visit was China’s proposal of multi-polarization in global governance. Li’s two speeches at the African Union and at the 2014 World Economic Forum on Africa conveyed to the world that China is poised to not only play a key role in the world economy, but also be active in creating a multi-polar world with other peace-loving countries, contributing its share to the establishment of a new framework for global governance rooted in justice and equality.
The Chinese premier expounded the significance of Africa in world politics, economy and culture. First, with a total of 54 countries, Africa occupies a quarter of the United Nations seats and plays an important role in safeguarding world peace and stability. It is indeed a significant pole in the global political stage. Second, boasting a vast geographical expanse, abundant resources and strong growth momentum, Africa is commonly recognized as a major emerging market. It is the newest pole in global economic growth. Third, Africa has a time-honored history and brilliant culture. It is the origin of human civilization and has had a far-reaching impact on the world’s cultural diversity, exchanges and dissemination. It is indeed a colorful pole in world civilizations.
Putting this view in the context of the multi-polarization process that China advocates, we can come to the conclusion that Africa is given a due place in the multi-polarized pattern China envisages, which is an open, inclusive system. As corroborated by Li’s remarks during his speech at the 24th World Economic Forum on Africa, “The rise of Africa as a new pole will make the world more democratic, stable, dynamic and colorful, and better facilitate peace, development and progress.”
Several African leaders visited China in 2014, including the presidents of Senegal, Mali, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. The most remarkable of these visits might be that of 90-year-old president of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe, his 13th to China, and that of the president of Tanzania Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete.
The visit by Mr. Mugabe, the longest serving African president and the only founding leader still in office, had dual significance. First, it occurred after Mr. Mugabe was not invited to the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, which denotes China’s attitude towards him. Second, China expressed support for Zimbabwe, which faces long-standing sanctions by the West due to the independent stance Mugabe hews to. In fact, the land reform the president spearheaded has made an impact to some extent, as recognized by international academic circles. The West now realizes it is time to set the record straight: The EU recently lifted trade sanctions against the country.
As for the visit by Mr. Kikwete, it is another token of enhanced Sino-Tanzanian friendship. An old friend of China, Mr. Kikwete met with multiple Chinese leaders. He called for closer cooperation between the two governments as well as more economic and cultural exchanges between their peoples. The president extolled the projects Chinese companies are undertaking in Tanzania and the trade opportunities that Yiwu, a city in East China, provides for African businesspeople. He looked forward to deepening cooperative ties between the two countries in such fields as politics, trade and economy, tourism and education.
Growing Trade and People-to-People Exchanges
The economic ties between China and Africa have grown stronger over past years. China has been the continent’s largest trade partner for five successive years. Should the goal of further cooperation in the six fields identified by the Chinese premier be reached, both sides would see substantial benefits. Such cooperation meets the pressing demands of African countries, and also caters to the needs of China’s economic restructuring amid deepened reforms. Cooperation on infrastructure is a key aspect. This includes high-speed train research & development centers and aviation cooperation programs. In the field of finance, China decided to expand an existing credit line to several African states by US $10 billion and inject US $2 billion into the China-Africa Development Fund. Capital shortfall has long caused delays to African development. Chinese loans and funds could ease the entry of Chinese corporations into Africa and meanwhile, facilitate African people’s economic activities, creating more jobs on the continent.
