China-Africa cooperation set to expand as FOCAC summit approaches

Two African experts expressed optimism about the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, believing it will open new avenues and opportunities for economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa to build on a track record of mutually beneficial outcomes.

These sentiments were shared after attending the launch ceremony of the 2024 Chinese Investment in Africa report, which runs concurrently with the Invest in Africa Beijing Dialogue held in Beijing on Friday.

Themed "China-Africa Investment Cooperation: A New Impetus to Africa's Industrialization," the report jointly authored by China-Africa Business Council, renowned think tanks, and experts from China and other countries.

It highlights that Chinese investment in Africa has not only spurred economic growth but has also significantly advanced the continent's industrialization process.

The launch event brought together representatives from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China's Ministry of Commerce, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, as well as ambassadors from various African countries in China and representatives from international organizations.

Attendees expressed their anticipation for the upcoming FOCAC Summit, scheduled from September 4 to 6 in Beijing, which they believe will further enhance China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.

"As the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in China, I have actually been in China for 16 years. I believe I can testify to the greatness and pragmatism of this cooperation. It is truly substantial and practical. Therefore, I invite everyone to read this report carefully. In this report, we can realize how close the cooperation between China and Africa is, how diverse its forms are, and how it involves multiple parties, with both men and women participating. Everyone is working together for a better future. This is what mutually beneficial cooperation looks like," said Martin Mpana, the Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon to China and the Dean of African Diplomatic Corps in China.

Mwangi Wachira, an advisor to the Kenyan Government and a former World Bank economist, echoed this optimism, emphasizing the profound impact of China-Africa cooperation on the continent and on both countries.

"The cooperation between Africa and China has been particularly important; it has changed the face and the character of the continent. It has had a dramatic impact on the country, a positive impact on the country. On the other side, I cannot comment on what China has gained out of it. But we can tell by the volume of trade, by the FDI, measures of FDI to Africa, we can tell that Africa has had a modest impact on China during that time. The impact goes both ways. We affect China, and China affects us," said Wachira.

China has maintained its position as Africa's largest trading partner for fifteen consecutive years.

In 2023, China-Africa trade volume reached 282.1 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of nearly 11 percent compared to 2021. Trade volume between China and nearly half of the African countries saw double-digit year-on-year growth, reflecting the strong resilience and vitality of China-Africa trade.

China-Africa cooperation set to expand as FOCAC summit approaches

China-Africa cooperation set to expand as FOCAC summit approaches

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is fully prepared and always ready to resolutely smash any foreign interference and aggression, said Lieutenant-General He Lei on Monday.

He, former vice president of the People's Liberation Army Academy of Military Sciences, sat with China Global Television Network (CGTN) ahead of the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum to discuss the South China Sea issue and the Taiwan question.

He accused the Philippines of constantly creating new tensions in the South China Sea to provoke China and harm China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in violation of regional rules and the international law. "As we all know, China and the Philippines are close neighbors facing each other across the sea with a traditional friendship. However, the Philippines has quickly turned to the United States and strengthened their military alliance since June 2022. It has made frequent provocations in Huangyan Dao, Ren'ai Jiao, and now Xianbin Jiao, to disrupt and undermine China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. In disregard of China's dissuasion, the Philippines insists on such practices, which seriously violate the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. It is a unilateral change of the status quo and an act against the rules of international law," He said.

The senior officer also condemned the repeated U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, saying China's complete reunification is a process that cannot be halted by such moves.

"The U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, whether for offensive or defensive purposes, are arming Taiwan and condoning "Taiwan independence", which undermines the security of the Taiwan Strait. I believe that no matter how many the U.S. arms sales are, no matter what the weapons are, they cannot stop the great cause of the reunification of the Chinese nation," He said.

Noting both the South China Sea issue and the Taiwan question face external interference, He said the PLA has strong will and confidence in defeating any foreign enemy to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

"Resolutely defending the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests is the sacred duty and historical mission of the PLA. The Chinese people and the PLA will never allow any external force to interfere in China's internal affairs or invade China's territory. The PLA is fully prepared and always ready to resolutely smash any interference and aggression by any foreign enemy with firm determination, strong will, powerful capabilities and effective means," he said.

Initiated in 2006, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum is a high-level security and defense forum in Asia-Pacific with significant international influence. The 11th edition of the forum, themed "Promoting Peace for a Shared Future", is underway in Beijing from Thursday to Saturday.

PLA ready to smash any foreign interference, aggression: lieutenant general