FOCAC- a model for mutually beneficial co-operation

Ranga Mataire, Zimpapers Politics Hub

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is in Beijing, China for a state visit and also to attend the Forum for China-Africa (Focac) summit scheduled to start tomorrow.

Recently inaugurated as the SADC chairperson, President Mnangagwa carries two caps to the summit — one as the President of Zimbabwe and another as the leader of the regional bloc.

An experienced political tactician and a diplomatic maestro, President Mnangagwa carries the expectations of his country and that of the region, which recently held its 44th Heads of State and Government summit whose main thrust was implementing measures to speed up industrialisation.

The 44th Heads of State and Government Summit’s thrust resonates well with the Focac summit’s theme of; “Joining Hands to Advance Modernisation and Build A High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future”.

Since the inception of Focac in 2000 and the China-Africa Development Fund in 2006, China’s economic ties with Africa have deepened significantly. Over the past two decades, China’s foothold on the continent has resulted in huge investments in several sectors including mining, energy, infrastructure development and in agriculture.

While this summit is about China-Africa co-operation, which entails a continental engagement with one of the fastest growing emerging superpower, regional blocs like SADC can also engage for some deliverables especially in the energy sector.

SADC has one of the highest solar irradiation and great wind energy potential in sub-Saharan Africa. The falling costs of both solar photovoltaic and wind energy technologies and the discovery of transition minerals essential for the shift to low-carbon economies in several SADC countries makes the region the most favourable destination for renewable energy project developers.

Sadly, at the moment, only one percent of solar and wind energy potential has been utilised. SADC needs to utilise the structures and policies that already exist in promoting investment in renewable energy. There are other areas that the region including Zimbabwe can benefit from Focac.

The meeting provides a platform for strengthening China-Africa relations. Zimbabwe’s attendance demonstrates its commitment to its relationship with China and sets the tone for more foreign direct investments. Focac is critical in that it aligns with Africa’s quest for modernisation and industrialisation, which is also critical for Zimbabwe’s economic growth and development.

In the case of Zimbabwe, China has become one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment (FDI) in recent years. Zimbabwe has been actively courting Chinese investment and the Asian giant country has responded by directly assisting the Government in development infrastructure in terms of refurbishing the country’s Robert Mugabe International Airport in Harare, the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, the Hwange Thermal Power station expansion and a Chinese company Dinson Iron and Steel Company (Disco) set up the Manhize Steel Plant in Mvuma, which recently started manufacturing steel.

All these are tangible Chinese investments that have created employment and are contributing towards economic growth and development.

And there are various reasons why China finds Zimbabwe attractive for investments. The country is endowed with natural resources including lithium- one of the most sought after mineral used in the manufacture of electric car batteries. The country is also strategically located at the heart of southern Africa, making it a regional hub for trade and investment. Zimbabwe has also implemented economic reforms aimed at improving the business environment and attracting foreign investment. China and Zimbabwe enjoy strong diplomatic relations, which the later can leverage on to attract investment to the region. Overall, Chinese investment has played a significant role in Zimbabwe’s economic development and the country is likely to continue to be an important destination for Chinese FDI in the region.

Cognisant of Africa’s critical role in global economic affairs, the People’s Republic of China’s Vice-Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Chen Xiadong said Focac offers an opportunity for African leaders and China to celebrate friendship and chart the way forward for co-operation. 

“This marks another grand reunion of the China-Africa big family following the 2006 Beijing Summit, the 2015 Johannesburg Summit and the 2018 Beijing Summit of Focac. It is also the biggest diplomatic event China has hosted in recent years, with the highest attendance of foreign leaders,” said Mr Xiadong.

The Vice-Foreign Affairs Minister said there will be four high-level meetings focusing on state of governance, industrialisation and agricultural modernisation, peace and security, high-quality Belt and Road Co-operation, as well as the holding of the eighth Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs and other related matters.

China’s President, Xi Jinping is expected to deliver the keynote address that will elaborate on the new ideas and propositions on building a high-level community with a shared future between China and Africa. He is expected to announce actions and measures for practical co-operation with Africa.

As proof of the seriousness, the Chinese government attaches to this summit, there will be an adoption of two outcome documents on the Declaration and the Action Plan to build major consensus between the two sides and chart a path for implementing high-quality China-Africa co-operation in the next three years.

Focac has attained remarkable results thus far, making it a “golden brand” of China-Africa co-operation and a banner for leading international co-operation with Africa and deepening Global South co-operation.

Under the joint concern and contribution of President Xi Jinping and African leaders, China and Africa have focused on friendly co-operation, steadily advancing the development of the Forum and the implementation of its outcomes, propelling China-Africa relations to make great strides forward and achieve leapfrog development.

The building of a China-Africa community with a shared future is advancing to a higher level. President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to China-Africa relations as illustrated by his first overseas visit as state president in 2013, where he visited Africa and proposed the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests.

Under the guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, China-Africa relations have entered a new phase of building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future. The building of a China-Africa community with a shared future continues to be at the forefront of building a communit a shared future for mankind.

Another success of Focac is that it has created mutually beneficial co-operation between China and Africa, which is advancing toward higher-quality development. On the path to modernisation, both sides have synergised the Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative with Africa Union’s Agenda 2063 and the development strategies of African countries. Based on the platform of Focac, China and African nations have jointly implemented the ten co-operation plans, eight major initiatives and nine programmes, to continuously improve and upgrade China-Africa co-operation.

China is the largest developing country investor in Africa and has remained Africa’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, demonstrating the strong resilience and vitality of China-Africa co-operation.

China-Africa co-operation is an enduring pact that has been cemented by the emphasis by President Xi Jinping that no matter how the international landscape may evolve, China will never waver in its determination to pursue greater solidarity and co-operation with Africa. The Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence still anchor relations between China-Africa and are meant to promote mutual trust and consistent support for each other on core interests’ issues.  Both sides jointly advocate for an equal and orderly multi-polar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation.

The people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China-Africa have also taken the co-operation to another level with President Xi Jinping pointing out that in recent years, civil exchanges between China and Africa have been active and frequent with a variety of cultural exchange activities such as the China-Africa Youth Gala. Chinese and African scholars have also jointly proposed the “China-Africa Dar es Salaam Consensus” at the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum, which proffered solutions, ideas and proposals to address major issues and challenges facing today’s world.

The massive Chinese investments in Africa underline its acceptance as an equal partner for development. Most African nations have readily welcomed China because its presence represents a mix of political and economic incentives, which creates a win-win situation for both sides.