By Dr. Austin Maho
The just concluded summit between China and African leaders and subsequent Changsha Declaration reaffirms commitments to solidarity within the Global South, promoting cooperation on development initiatives, resistance to unilateralism, and enhancing economic partnerships between China and African countries.
The meeting was hosted in Changsha, Hunan Province, under the broader Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) framework which would be celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary this year.
In a world plagued by unilateralism and growing nationalism and abandonment of a ruled based global order hinged on global institutions like the United Nations and other global bodies the Changsha summit is an affirmation by the global south of multilateralism and a rule based global order.
recall that in September 2024 the 24th FOCAC summit was held in Beijing China were member countries adopted the Beijing Declaration, establishing an “all-weather China Africa community with a shared future for the new era” and upgrading bilateral relations with all 53 African states to a strategic level. For Nigeria the relationship was upgraded to strategic comprehensive. They also endorsed the Beijing Action Plan (2025–2027), outlining ten partnership initiatives across sectors like infrastructure, trade, health, digital tech, green energy, security, and governance. The Changsha Summit draws from the Beijing summit as a follow up on action and implementation to reviewed progress and produced a report detailing specific outcomes across the ten partnership areas.
The 2024 FOCAC summit was pivotal, it was an epochal moment in deepening China Africa strategic alignment, renewed financial commitment with a shift toward quality projects and capacity building, infrastructural development and robust affirmation of a shared vision of development and south south cooperation. FOCAC 2024 is the fore runner of the Changsha Summit, reinforcing China-Africa unity within the Global South, with coordination on geopolitical and opposition to unilateralism.
As a review summit the Changsha declaration is key to sstrengthening Solidarity Within the Global South. Drawing from FOCAC 2024 the Changsha declaration further expresses a commitment to establish a stronger collective identity among developing nations, recognizing the rise of the Global South as pivotal for future development. China and African nations emphasize their roles as key participants in promoting multilateralism and resisting unilateral pressures from dominant powers, particularly in trade and economic policies
It outlines plans for enhanced economic partnerships, including expanding zero-tariff treatments on goods traded with African countries, which will significantly boost trade dynamics. The focus on sectors like green industry, e-commerce, and technology indicates a shift towards sustainable and tech-driven economic growth. Enhanced market access for African products aims to increase trade volume and foster mutual benefits
The declaration condemns unilateral actions and economic bullying, calling for efforts to resolve trade disputes through dialogue and consultation rather than coercive measures. This positions China and African states as advocates for a more equitable global trading system
The declaration emphasizes China’s readiness to increase development assistance to African nations, underscoring the need for collaborative efforts to address socio-economic challenges, reduce poverty, and improve livelihoods. This support aims to empower African nations in their development goals, particularly those outlined in the African Union’s Agenda 2063
By reinforcing the UN-centric international order, the declaration seeks to increase collective bargaining power for Global South countries in global governance structures. This advocacy for true multilateralism contrasts sharply with the prevailing trends of unilateral decisions by major powers
The China-Africa Changsha Declaration is pivotal for shaping the future of cooperation in the Global South, aiming to build a community of shared destiny that emphasizes mutual respect, support, and sustainable development. It sets a precedent for collective action among developing nations and underscores the importance of economic partnerships that respect sovereignty and promote growth equitably. By standing together, the nations involved hope to navigate global challenges more effectively and secure a more just international order. Essentially, this declaration could be a transformative step in reinforcing the unity and strategic partnerships among the countries of the Global South.
Happily Nigerian foreign minister Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar attended the high level meeting together with the Director-General of the office of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership Joseph Tegbe and both of them made useful contributions. The Nigerian delegation were received by the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Mao Weiming, Governor of Hunan Province. This is clearly in line with the comprehensive strategic partnership between Nigeria and China in furtherance of deepening China-Nigeria cooperation.
Sources in the Nigerian delegation also revealed that several cooperation agreements were reached with many Chinese companies desirous of setting up presence in Nigeria and bringing in the much needed foreign direct investment that would give the much needed boost to the Nigeria economy.
In line with the renewed hope agenda of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, perhaps no better time than now for Nigeria to incorporate the FOCAC 2024 ten action plan into its economic programme. The action plan not only speaks to the developmental challenges of the continent but specifically to Nigeria in the march towards economic rejuvenation and meeting the aspiration of millions of Nigerians in achieving, poverty reduction and accelerating economic growth.
Nigeria as the largest black nation in the world must be at the forefront in solidifying the momentum from the Beijing FOCAC Summit, and transitioning broad strategic commitments into actionable, multi-sector initiatives for the benefit China Africa unity.
Dr Maho is an International Affairs analyst and Publisher Daybreak Nigeria Newspaper
