FOCAC summit consolidates South-South cooperation in divided world: former Malaysian envoy

The just-concluded 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has cemented the long-standing China-Africa partnership and played a crucial role in unifying the Global South in an increasingly divided world, said Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, former Malaysian ambassador to China.

Gathering leaders from China and over 50 African countries, the 2024 FOCAC summit, which ran from Wednesday to Friday in Beijing, was the largest diplomatic event hosted by China in recent years. China says the Beijing Summit is a Global South moment that helps build a community with a shared future for mankind.

In an exclusive interview with CGTN, Khan, also the former chairman of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, highlighted the deepening cooperation between China and Africa over decades, which included efforts in poverty reduction, infrastructure projects, human resources capacity building and agriculture.

"Over the years, China and Africa have cooperated on Africa's decolonization, question of alleviation of poverty and, in later years, to support Africa's modernization and development. China is also using the BRI to contribute much to Africa's development in terms of infrastructure, in terms of human resources development and also in the question of agriculture, helping Africa to actually develop its agricultural product for exports, all over the world," he said.

Khan said the recent FOCAC gathering is a testament to China's prominent role in promoting South-South cooperation.

"I think this forum is a manifestation of three things: one, a recognition of Chinese leadership role, particularly in development, and secondly, also the push towards South-South cooperation or what is now called Global South, and China has a great input on this. And thirdly, it's also a manifestation of the growing consolidation of the early ties and it's a reflection that both sides have decided that the way forward is to increase cooperation and also better understanding," said the former ambassador.

Noting that Africa was once described as the "forgotten continent," Khan praised China for it consistent efforts to seek common development with Global South partners.

Since 2000 when the FOCAC was formally founded, China-Africa relations have witnessed solid progress at multilateral, bilateral and individual levels. A mechanism such as the FOCAC becomes vital as collaborative endeavor is increasingly needed amid global divisions, according to Khan.

"It has grown from strength to strength. The forum not only provides the cooperation and paving the way for a better partnership in terms of multilateral, but also in terms of individual and bilateral relationship, and also, as I mentioned earlier, it's a consolidation of South-South cooperation, which is very much needed now in this divided world," he said.

FOCAC summit consolidates South-South cooperation in divided world: former Malaysian envoy

Truck drivers and their cargoes sought refuge in a Shanghai activity hub as Typhoon Bebinca, the strongest typhoon to hit the city in decades, made landfall on Monday morning, unleashing heavy rains and winds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour.

In the Pudong District, situated on the southeastern tip of Shanghai, the impact of Typhoon Bebinca was stark, with trees and road signs uprooted, construction sites disrupted, and bicycles scattered across the ground.

Shanghai is not prone to strong typhoons, but local authorities have made emergency plans.

In Lingang Special Area, an activity hub was transformed into a temporary shelter for over 130 truck drivers and their cargoes.

"With such strong winds, it's not safe to park my truck on the street. Trees could fall. Parking here is a safer choice. The service is good here. It's clean, and it also provides food. We can take a shower here," said Wang Shaodong, a truck driver from east China's Anhui Province.

"The Donghai Bridge has been closed, as the typhoon is approaching. That's why we came here. They provide us with bedding, and air conditioners were turned on. So we are staying here. There are also meals downstairs," said Gong Xiangge, a hazardous cargo driver from east China's Shandong Province.

"We call these truck drivers 'men living on wheels.' The 13th typhoon [of this year] brought gales, with maximum wind speed reaching 36.9 meters per second, so danger may come at any time. So staying on the side of the street is unsafe for both trucks and drivers," said Fan Jianrong, deputy director of Lingang Special Area Investment Holding Group.

Although traffic resumed on all roads and bridges across Shanghai starting from 20:00 on Monday, precautions are still in place as Typhoon Pulasan, the 14th of the year, has formed in the northeastern Pacific and could follow a similar path to Typhoon Bebinca.

The director of the center said that the shelter remains open to those in need, ensuring that assistance is readily available for individuals affected by the poor weather.

Truck drivers seek shelter as powerful typhoon hits Shanghai