How Can FOCAC Sustain Its Longevity?

The 2024 meeting of the China-Africa Cooperation Council FOCAC will be held in Beijing from September 4 to 6. This will be the fourth time for the Council to hold its summit meeting, where China and Africa will jointly plan the development direction of the cooperation of the future on the slogan of “jointly developing modern affairs and building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.”

China and Africa will jointly plan the development direction of future cooperation. Photo: CRI
Source: UGC

Recently many senior leaders from African countries including the President of Zanzibar, Tanzania and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kenya expressed their high expectations for the meeting.

Since its establishment 24 years ago, through the joint efforts of China and Africa, FOCAC has become the most effective agreement between Africa and certain countries, and the areas of cooperation are very broad and also keep up with the times. At the same time, the great effectiveness of FOCAC is also based on a solid evaluation and preparation process.

Also read

Collins Jumaisi: DCI Announces Rich Reward For Who Will Help Arrest Suspect Of Mass Murder

The FOCAC meeting is held every three years, a coordination meeting is held one year after the end of each general meeting to check the implementation of the agreements reached and a preparatory meeting is held several days before the general meeting to plan the topics of the meeting. This sustainable system has maintained close communication and accountability for the projects proposed during the meeting, so that important commitments made each time can be truly implemented.

At the same time, FOCAC has not only been recognized by China and Africa, but has gradually become a flag on the international stage to expand international cooperation with Africa and strengthen South-South cooperation.

China has always regarded cooperation with African countries as relationship of mutual benefit between developing countries within the framework of South-South cooperation. The continued success of FOCAC has shown the potential for the development of South-South cooperation, which not only increases the voice and influence of the “Global South” in international affairs, but also redefines the future political and economic situation in the world.

Also read

Kenyan Newspapers, August 22: How the Hand of the White House Contributed to the Dismissal of Kawira Mwangaza

At the 2024 FOCAC Summit, a series of new cooperation agreements are expected to further affect China-Africa relations in the future. On the basis of the plans reached, it is believed that the conference will continue to prioritize expanding economic, trade and industrial cooperation to expand the scope of African products that are exported and the capacity of industrial production in the continent.

In terms of infrastructure, the meeting will also further strengthen financial cooperation and improve the effectiveness of Chinese investment in Africa.

Strengthening people-to-people ties may also be a major focus of this year's conference. At the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue in 2023, China and Africa jointly announced the China-Africa Expert Training Cooperation Plan, where China promised to provide more vocational training to African people.

Moreover, after the disaster COVID-19cultural contacts are set to be refocused, and re-launch a new era of tourism between China and Africa. Apart from these three areas, agendas like health, agriculture and the digital economy will also be discussed.