China promises to expand cooperation with Africa

China's President Xi Jinping announced on Thursday (5) the project to implement ten partnership actions with the continent, which will be financed by the Chinese government to the value of 360 billion yuan (US$ 51,4 billion), following bilateral meetings with 25 heads of state in Africa in less than a week.

The Chinese president stated that the projects will impact multiple infrastructure sectors and that the transfers would be completed by 2027. Prior to and during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC, in English), which got underway on Wednesday (4) and runs through Friday (6), he has been holding meetings with the presidents of African nations in Beijing since Monday (2).

China has chosen to form strategic alliances with 53 of the 54 African nations with which it has diplomatic ties in the current edition. China's foreign policy is increasingly focussing on enhancing partnership levels as a means of fortifying relations with nations, particularly those in the so-called Global South.

The entire investment will be split between an 80 billion yuan (US$ 11,3 billion) aid program, a credit line of 210 billion yuan (about US$ 29,8 billion), and 70 billion yuan (US$ 9,9 billion) in investments made by Chinese enterprises in Africa.

In terms of health cooperation, hospitals and medical centres were to form an alliance together. China has committed to sending 2,000 medical personnel and launching 20 initiatives for healthcare facilities and malaria treatment across the continent. The WHO estimates that 94% of malaria cases worldwide in 2022 (233 million cases) and 95% of malaria-related deaths (580,000 deaths) occurred in Africa.

In terms of food and agriculture, China will send 500 agricultural experts to Africa, establish a "China-Africa agricultural scientific and technological innovation alliance," build standardised agricultural "demonstration areas" covering more than 6,600 hectares, and give African nations 1 billion yuan (roughly US$ 142,1 million) for emergency food assistance.

In order to help them generate added value and at least one million local jobs, the Chinese president declared that “two-way investments will be encouraged for new businesses of Chinese and African companies” in this sector.

The ninth announced area of collaboration is common security. According to Xi, China would "invite 500 young [African] military officers to visit China" and will provide one billion yuan to train 6,000 military troops and 1,000 police officers. Additionally, it announced the establishment of a centre for cooperation in digital technology, which will launch 30 infrastructural connection projects and 20 digital initiatives throughout Africa.

This week saw the signing of an agreement to elevate diplomatic ties with China to the status of strategic partnership by the presidents and chiefs of state of Mauritania, Mali, Comoros, Togo, Djibouti, the Seychelles, Chad, Malawi, and Libya. Some nations have embraced what are referred to as comprehensive strategic relationships, including Nigeria and Cameroon. President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and the Asian behemoth inked a "new era comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership," which is now the strongest ties between any African nation and China.

The "Beijing Action Plan (2025–2027)" of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation and the "Beijing Declaration on Joining Hands to Advance Modernisation and Build a High-Level China–Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era" were also inked. The Beijing Declaration is the longest designation used for a collaboration across a whole region and is included in the nation's diplomatic jargon.