By Dr. Austin Maho
The 8th ministerial conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) took place in Dakar Senegal recently,
The high profile gathering which holds every three years is an opportunity to appraise the state of health of China-Africa relationship and make projections into the future growth of the relationship. The eighth edition of the forum was held under the theme “Deepen China-Africa Partnership and Promote Sustainable Development to Build a China-Africa Community with a Shared Future in the New Era”.
The conference was co-chaired by Chinese state Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao, Senegalese Foreign Minister Aissata Tall Sall, and Senegalese Minister of Economy, Planning and International Cooperation Amadou Hott.
This year’s conference took place under the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic and the attendant global economic meltdown that has greatly impacted African countries and the rest of the world. The pandemic has also laid bare global fault lines, multilateralism has given way to parochialism and vaccine nationalism. Africa countries are reeling from vaccine inadequacy and the urgent need to move ahead with its economic recovery plan post covid-19.
It can be assumed therefore that the success of the 8th Ministerial Conference of FOCAC is dependent on how well it met the expectations of African countries on the twin issues of covid-19 response and the economy.
Not surprising, boosting Covid-19 response and given African economies the needed shot in the arm were top on the shopping lists of African countries at the Dakar conference.
Fortunately, the conference didn’t come shot on these two most important issues.
A major outcome of the Dakar plan is that loans will be offered on a more concessional basis and innovative ways of financing will be explored, to support Africa’s infrastructure development, energy and resources development, agriculture, manufacturing, and the comprehensive development of the whole industrial chain of Africa.
China will support African countries in making better use of resources from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the New Development Bank, the Silk Road Fund the China-Africa special fund for development financing, and the special Loan for the Development of African SMEs.
Assistance would also be offered to further broaden and optimize financing channels for Africa, and support the development of African SMEs through accessible and affordable loans.
According to the Action Plan: “China will provide 10 billion US dollars in a credit line to African financial institutions and support the development of small and medium-sized African enterprises on a priority basis”.
This is important as it would allow for more transparency in the deployment and utilization of funds source from these financial institution and ensure that only viable projects are funded.
Another significant area of intervention is the Covid-19 pandemic. In light of Africa’s COVID-19 situation and the lack of access to COVID-19 vaccines, China committed to supply vaccines to Africa through bilateral and multilateral channels, over the next three years and support African countries to improve their vaccine production, storage, and delivery capacities.
According to the Action Plan:
“China will provide another one billion doses of vaccines to Africa, including 600 million doses as a donation and 400 million doses to be provided through such means as a joint production by Chinese companies and relevant African countries. Africa welcomes China’s support to the waiver of intellectual property rights of their COVID-19 vaccines and encourages others to do so”.
This is another huge intervention by China in assisting African countries in addressing the critical problem of vaccine shortages in the continent and also having the critical infrastructures for vaccine research and production.
Although China did not announce major financial aid as in precious conferences, far reaching decision were however reach under the Dakar Action Plan, to be pursued jointly in the next three years to further strengthen Sino-Africa relations.
Apart from the two critical areas highlighted above, President Xi in the run-up to FOCAC, stated that China and Africa had jointly prepared the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035. Under its first three-year plan, he said, China will work closely with African countries to implement nine programmes. The focal areas are in: health and medicine, poverty alleviation and agricultural development, trade promotion, investment promotion, digital innovation, green development, capacity building, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, as well as peace and security.
To achieve critical targets in line with the action plan, the conference agreed to high-level exchanges to deepen traditional friendship, enhance political mutual trust, strengthen strategic coordination and cement the political foundation of Sino -Africa relations.
According to the Dakar Action Plan
“China supports African countries in independently exploring development paths suited to their national conditions, support efforts in formulating national development strategies, strengthening governing capacity and improving state governance”.
China also promised to undertake 10 green development, environmental protection, and climate action assistance projects for Africa, and support the development of the Great Green Wall.
Evidently the 8th ministerial conference of FOCAC has once again taken Sino-African relationship to new heights guided by the vision of win-win and shared humanity.
As stated by the president of South Africa, FOCAC since inception has become “an engine for progress a beacon of hope and a valuable platform for dialogue, for amplifying Africa’s voice on the world stage.”
It is irrefutable that FOCAC has made tremendous gains as a platform of cooperation in terms of trade and investment and has endeared greater cooperation between China and Africa in fields from education to medical care and transportation among others.
It is expected that the Dakar Action Plan would be fully implemented in the next three years in a sustainable way for the benefit China and Africa.
It is also hoped that China will continue to invest in the infrastructural development of Africa in line with the One Belt One Road Initiative, especially in key sectors such as port, rail, energy and water, and to continue to support human capital development and technology transfer to enrich lives of citizens of both Chinese and African people.
And as the Chinese Councellor Wang Yi said: “China and African cooperation must continue to improve despite adversity, demonstrating strong tenacity and potential. We should take the opportunity of the implementation of the outcome of this conference to better and benefit the Chinese and African people”
.
Dr. Austin Maho is a Sino/China affairs specialist and based in Abuja.
