THE Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024, held in Beijing on September 4 to 6 this year, plays a pivotal role in the discourse surrounding the right to development, particularly for countries in the Global South. The forum highlights the commitment of China and African nations to mutual cooperation, economic growth and sustainable development under the South-South Cooperation and Development (SSC&D) umbrella. This emphasizes the importance of collaboration among developing countries to collectively achieve their development goals, mitigate inequalities and build resilience against the historical imbalances perpetuated by North-South dynamics.
10-point agenda/actions
Among the highlights of FOCAC 2024 was Chinese President Xi Jinping’s comprehensive 10-point agenda for strengthening China-Africa relations and partnership over the coming years, which includes:
1. Mutual learning among civilizations: Establish a China-Africa knowledge network, create 25 centers for China and African studies, and invite 1,000 members of African political parties to China for exchanges on governance.
2. Trade prosperity: China will give zero-tariff treatment to all Least Developed Countries with diplomatic relations, including 33 African countries. This will open China’s market further and deepen cooperation in e-commerce and agriculture, turning China’s market into an opportunity for Africa.
3. Industrial chain cooperation: China will foster industrial clusters in Africa, empower African SMEs and develop a digital technology cooperation center with 20 digital demonstration projects.
4. Connectivity: China will support 30 infrastructure projects in Africa, promote Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, assist in developing the African Continental Free Trade Area, and enhance logistics and financial cooperation.
5. Development cooperation: China will carry out 1,000 small livelihood projects, replenish the China-World Bank Partnership Facility and support Africa in hosting major sports events, including the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
6. Health: China will establish a China-Africa hospital alliance, send 2,000 medical personnel to Africa, launch health programs and invest in Africa’s pharmaceutical production. China will also support Africa’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in strengthening public health systems.
7. Agriculture and livelihoods: Provide RMB1 billion in food assistance, build agricultural demonstration areas, send experts and create jobs through joint ventures, aiming to generate 1 million jobs in Africa.
8. People-to-people exchanges: Support vocational education, offer training opportunities, build engineering and technical academies, and launch a Cultural Silk Road program to enhance cultural and media collaboration.
9. Green development: Initiate 30 clean energy projects, establish early warning systems for disasters and cooperate on biodiversity, disaster mitigation, nuclear technology and space exploration.
10. Common security: China will support Africa’s security with RMB1 billion in military assistance, training programs, joint military exercises and efforts to create a mine-free Africa and ensure the safety of personnel and projects.
This 10-point agenda emphasizes China’s commitment to deepening economic, cultural, technological and security cooperation with Africa over the coming years.
Right to development
The right to development, a cornerstone of international human rights, asserts that every person is entitled to economic, social, cultural and political progress. FOCAC exemplifies how African nations can actively claim this right through strategic partnerships with China, addressing persistent challenges like poverty, insufficient infrastructure and underdevelopment. In a global landscape dominated by economic powers in the Global North, FOCAC offers an alternative development model. It enables African countries to pursue their growth ambitions free from the political and economic constraints often tied to Western-led financial systems and aid, fostering a path toward self-determined progress.
As a leading power and the largest developing country in the Global South, China positions itself as a major contributor to the development aspirations of African nations. This is done through infrastructure investments, economic partnerships, education initiatives and industrial capacity-building, much of which is framed within the BRI. For African nations, FOCAC provides a platform to engage China in mutually beneficial arrangements that support their development agendas without compromising their sovereignty or being subjected to the conditionalities of Western financial institutions.
At its heart, SSC&D embodies principles of mutual respect, equality and partnerships driven by shared challenges and opportunities. Unlike traditional cooperation models, which often perpetuate dependency, SSC&D fosters a more empowering framework where developing nations uplift each other through collective resources, knowledge and experiences. FOCAC illustrates this approach by facilitating direct collaboration between China and African countries, positioning China not as a donor but as a partner aligned with common developmental objectives. This reflects a shift toward partnerships emphasizing sovereignty, equality and self-determined progress.
Moreover, FOCAC enhances African nations’ collective bargaining power in international forums. By fostering deeper ties with China, they gain a powerful ally that can help amplify their voices on issues such as trade reform and climate change. This strengthens the South-South framework, promoting a more balanced and equitable global economic order.
An inspiration
Moreover, FOCAC is a source of inspiration for developing countries in Asia and other parts of the world. It demonstrates the power of mutual collaboration, strategic independence, partnerships and economic interdependence within the Global South. This forum showcases an alternative development model away from the traditional frameworks imposed by the Global North. It offers lessons and insights that resonate with many nations seeking to carve their own paths toward sustainable development and economic prosperity. It highlights the potential of shared resources, knowledge exchange and strategic independence to address common challenges such as poverty, infrastructure deficits and the need for industrialization.
This model provides an alternative to the dependency on aid from traditional Western institutions like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, which often impose restrictive conditions. The ability of African nations to negotiate mutually beneficial agreements with China exemplifies the potential of Global South cooperation, inspiring regions such as Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean and Eurasia to adopt similar strategies. This framework fosters a vision of shared futures and global solidarity, empowering developing countries to take control of their destinies within a multipolar world. By prioritizing joint development and mutual benefits, this approach starkly contrasts with the historical exploitation of colonialism, offering a path toward a more equitable international order where the Global South has a greater voice and agency in global affairs.
Indeed, the 2024 FOCAC underscores the importance of development driven by the Global South’s priorities. As Africa and China continue to deepen their cooperation, FOCAC will remain a critical platform for advancing the right to development of African countries while inspiring the rest of the Global South and will equally serve as a convincing alternative to traditional models of international relations and development. Through this forum, China and Africa reaffirm their commitment to shared prosperity and global solidarity in a rapidly changing global landscape.
FOCAC stands as a beacon for cooperation among countries of the Global South. It shows that developing countries can assert their right to development through mutual respect, infrastructure investment, technology transfer, green growth, peace and security, and diplomatic unity. For nations in the Asia-Pacific, the Caribbean, Eurasia, Latin America and other parts of the world, FOCAC’s success offers valuable lessons on how to pursue sustainable, sovereign and equitable growth in a rapidly changing and emerging multipolar world.
Source: The Manila Times
https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/09/07/opinion/columns/focac-2024-advancing-the-right-to-development-through-south-south-cooperation/1969575
