Increased calls for further cooperation between China and Africa are proof that the Far East giant does not intend to back away from the continent.At the recent China-Africa Economic and Trade Relations and China-Africa Cultural Cooperation and Exchange Week in Jinhua in China’s Zhejiang province, more than 400 delegates from China and Africa discussed visions of a shared future and a China-Africa community.According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there is confidence that the China-Africa friendship will stand the test of time. The ministry also believes that fruitful China-Africa cooperation is beneficial in that it continues to form the backbone of South-South cooperation and stands as an example in international relations.By August, China had signed an exchange of letters with 12 African countries on zero tariffs for 98% of their export items to China.In a statement, the ministry said efforts to focus on development cooperation were ongoing. “We have pushed forward our cooperation on infrastructure, and completed several major projects since the Dakar Conference, including the Foundiougne Bridge in Senegal, the Nairobi Expressway, the Kribi-Lolabe Highway in Cameroon, and the 10th of Ramadan LRT in Egypt. All these have boosted Africa’s industrialisation process.“China is making steady progress in implementing all the pledges it made in Dakar in 2021, despite various difficulties and disturbances. Over $3 billion has been delivered out of the $10bn of credit facilities pledged to African financial institutions, and nearly $2.5bn in loans was channelled to Africa’s priority programmes. More than $2bn of the $10bn in trade finance has been allocated, and China’s import of African goods within seven months reached $70.6bn. Chinese companies have invested $2.17bn in Africa. We are prepared to, through the IMF’s two Trusts, rechannel $10bn of its Special Drawing Right (SDR) to Africa, and encourage the IMF to direct China’s contributions to Africa.”China has been particularly active in Zimbabwe where a number of megaprojects have been undertaken in recent years – including the expansion of the Harare Robert Mugabe International Airport, the construction of a new parliament building, the network expansion for Zimbabwe’s state-owned mobile firm NetOne, as well as the refurbishment of Harare's water treatment plant. China has also been responsible for the construction of a pharmaceutical warehouse in the country.Speaking during a recent event, Chinese state councillor Wang Yi said efforts to strengthen the partnership between China and Africa would continue. “We have expanded our cooperation on solar, wind and other clean energy sources. A number of key projects, including the Kafue Lower Gorge Power Station in Zambia, have entered into operation. We have held an excellent seminar on building Africa’s Great Green Wall. In countries including Botswana and Burkina Faso, we are carrying out South-South cooperation for addressing climate change. In Seychelles, we are building a low-carbon demonstration zone. In Madagascar and Mozambique, we have supported their response to hurricanes, and helped enhance capacity for disaster preparedness and relief.”He said going forward, concrete actions to promote common development would be required. “China keeps its word with real actions and will continue to take meeting Africa’s needs as the purpose of our cooperation with Africa. We will work with Africa in this regard. We will also continue to increase imports from Africa, support the greater development of Africa’s agricultural and manufacturing sectors, and expand cooperation in emerging industries such as the digital economy, health, green and low-carbon sectors.”
