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Features Correspondent
Recently, at the just-ended African Union Summit, China demonstrated why its relationship with the continent is moving from strength to strength, and likely to redefine global geopolitics.
The meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the first on the traditional continental calendar, took place between February 5 and 6.
In terms of international affairs, it was overshadowed by the impasse in Europe over the standoff between Ukraine and Russia; or more specifically, Western countries under the banner of NATO versus Russia.
In the madness, no one among global powers paid particular attention to Africa and the ongoing meeting that ran under the theme, “Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on African Continent; Strengthening Agro-food systems, health and social protection systems for the acceleration of human, social and economic capital development.’’
Well, everyone, except President Xi Jinping of China.
President Xi wrote a letter congratulating the African Union for turning 20 since its rebranding from the old Organisation of African Unity.
He did more.
He outlined a number of areas that China is co-operating with the continent, and the scope for further co-operation in 2022 and beyond.
A number of areas bear highlighting, from President Xi’s missive.
President Xi recalled that 2021 witnessed prosperous development of China-Africa relations with the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), held successfully in Senegal being a key marker.
During the conference, President Xi enunciated the “nine programmes” under the first three-year plan of the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035 and undertook to building “a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era”.
In Dakar, President Xi said China stood ready to work with the African side to actively implement the outcomes of FOCAC meetings, and advance the in-depth synergy among Belt and Road co-operation, the Global Development Initiative, the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the building of Free Trade Area, so as to bring China-Africa co-operation to a higher level with more extensive fields, and write a new chapter in China-Africa friendship.
The Chinese leader’s letter to African Heads of State at the AU summit was both reaffirming and reassuring.
It also carried huge symbolic value as a gesture of friendship.
Taken in the context of the feud in Europe, which is basically about fighting ideological and physical borders of old empires and re-enacting Cold War binaries, China’s focus on Africa is stuff of political genius, underlining President Xi’s vision of a “global shared future” which emphasises multilateralism, peace, security and rules-based order.
The Western feud in question not only appears anachronistic, but also rather puerile and the very antithesis of what China stands for as a global leader.
Engaged and engrossed thus, the West gave us more evidence on why it is losing the race to determine the future of the globe and why China is winning, under the able leadership of President Xi Jinping.
Ambassador Guo and China’s goals
China’s successes, past and present, lie in meticulous planning and attention to detail.
There is an evident systems thinking in Beijing, that has allowed China to diligently achieve results that are now shaping the globe.
In Zimbabwe, the work of Ambassador Guo Shaochun is showing this meticulousness and focus on goals.
Ambassador Guo wrote an important editorial in the State media on February 1, that pretty much read like his President’s letter to Africa.
He localised and broke down China’s policy in Zimbabwe which is a commitment to co-operate on a number of areas such as fighting the global COVID-19 pandemic, social assistance in water and sanitation, health and education investments as well as economic co-operation.
Taken together, President Xi and Ambassador Guo’s interventions are important indicators of how China is engaging the world at macro and micro levels.
While all this is just a marvel for students of history, analysts and armchair critics, policymakers and Governments must pay serious attention and be prepared to shape up.
No single power in modern times has been as clear, consistent and goal-driven towards co-operation with the wider world than China is doing now.
Importantly, countries like Zimbabwe must recognise and acknowledge that China’s position in the globe makes it the one essential partner for the future.
It is almost homoousia – a happen-stance – that the two countries have a history of friendship honed during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.
Political friendship has successfully underwritten and under-girded co-operation between the two sides, but more is demanded not least because the inspirational liberation war leitmotif is receding to the background nearly 60 years after Africa gained Independence.
New co-operation based on pragmatism, competency and shared values is likely to be more definitive of the current age and beyond.
There will be lots that will be required especially from African countries with respect to reforms, policies, laws and practices so as to match China’s high standards.
Zimbabwe is at a privileged position because of President Mnangagwa’s new trajectory of the Second Republic which is based on reform and transformation.
Already, a number of reforms have been instituted in the past four years.
This situation will likely benefit Zimbabwe and achieve perfect alignment with China.
Online Reporter