China’s relationship with Africa has become a cornerstone of Beijing’s efforts to expand its influence globally, challenging the Western-dominated world order. As Africa’s most significant trading partner and a major source of investment, China’s role on the continent is critical, making the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) an essential platform for both regions.
Held every three years, the FOCAC summit serves as an opportunity for China to showcase its global influence while providing African nations a chance to engage directly with the world’s second-largest economy on political and economic matters. This year’s summit is especially crucial as Africa seeks to navigate the challenges of the post-COVID era.
Previous summits have yielded tangible benefits for African countries. For instance, Kenya has emerged as the largest exporter of flowers to China, with annual exports valued at US$800 million, following agreements made during the eighth China-Africa summit in Dakar in 2021. Similarly, Ethiopia has successfully promoted its coffee exports to China through e-commerce, a trade development spurred by previous FOCAC discussions.
Moreover, the China-Africa Peace and Security Fund, established during earlier summits, has provided African nations with much-needed financial and equipment support for maintaining regional security.
Strategic Importance of the Summit
The significance of FOCAC to African states is underscored by the participation of 53 African countries in the three-day summit, with only eSwatini absent due to its diplomatic ties with Taiwan. For African nations, the summit is a critical event to maximize political and economic opportunities with China.
China has been clear about its Africa strategy, which has been articulated in comprehensive policy documents released in 2006, 2015, and 2021. The most recent, the 2035 Vision for China-Africa Cooperation, outlines a 15-year framework for collaboration, aligning with China’s broader Vision 2035 plan. This vision emphasizes fostering cooperation in industrialization, blue economy development, and supporting the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which aims to transform Africa into a future economic powerhouse.
Despite these detailed plans from China, African states have yet to produce a unified policy document that clearly outlines the continent’s strategic interests and how they align with China’s 2035 vision. This lack of a coordinated approach leaves African countries at a disadvantage, allowing China to dominate the agenda.
Challenges in China-Africa Relations
The ninth FOCAC summit comes at a time when China-Africa relations are facing significant challenges, particularly regarding Africa’s debt to China. From 2000 to 2022, China provided over US$170 billion in loans to 49 African nations and regional institutions. Countries like Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Zambia are burdened with high levels of Chinese debt and are aware that Beijing is unlikely to grant further debt relief easily.
However, Africa holds considerable geopolitical importance due to its 54 UN member states, which give it substantial voting power in international affairs. To leverage this power in negotiations with China, African nations need a clear vision and a strategic approach. Unity and coordination are essential for strengthening Africa’s position in its dealings with China.
Toward a Unified African Strategy
African nations often negotiate with China individually, weakening their bargaining power. In the absence of a unified continental strategy, there is a pressing need for African states to collaborate, potentially through regional economic communities, to develop coordinated engagement strategies.
The African private sector also has a critical role to play in advocating for the continent’s interests. Recent market-oriented reforms in China, which emphasize high-quality development over high-speed growth, signal a shift that African businesses could capitalize on. These reforms are expected to accelerate the trend of increased private sector involvement, which began at the 2021 Dakar summit.
Looking forward, it is crucial that African states adopt a unified stance before the 2024 FOCAC summit. Failure to do so would leave Africa at a disadvantage, allowing China to continue using the forum as a tool for its geopolitical ambitions.
Conclusion: Navigating the Future of China-Africa Relations
The China-Africa relationship has evolved beyond a simple exchange of natural resources for investment. Africa is increasingly important to China’s vision of a global community of developing countries, serving as a counterbalance to the Western-led international order. The 2024 FOCAC summit in Beijing will be a pivotal event, shaping the future direction of this partnership.
For Africa, the challenge is to use its interactions with China to drive economic growth and development on the continent. To do so, African nations must approach the summit with a clear, unified strategy that prioritizes their long-term interests and maximizes the benefits of their engagement with China.