Strong bonds: African leaders applauding Xi (centre) after his speech at the opening ceremony of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. — AFP
Dozens of African leaders gathered in Beijing for a summit that signals China’s influence in a continent that it hopes will be a key ally in pushing back against a US-led global order.
Chinese President Xi Jinping promised the leaders billions of dollars in loans and private investment over the next three years and proposed that relations with all African countries that have diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the “strategic” level.
“We have always supported each other, setting an example for new international relations,” he said at the opening of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Since the forum’s inception in 2000, China has become a major player in Africa, investing in mining, infrastructure and development under Xi’s Belt and Road initiative.
African leaders, while welcoming China’s support, are pushing for aid that aligns with their goals of industrialisation and expanding agricultural exports to address trade deficits.
Xi outlined 10 “partnership actions” that included training for African politicians and future leaders, a further opening of the Chinese market, agriculture demonstration areas, vocational and technical training, green energy projects and 1 billion yuan (RM608mil) in military grants.
“While commending the overall progress so far achieved, we also appreciate the announcement of further areas of partnership actions,” said Tanzania’s President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, speaking on behalf of eastern Africa.
“We salute a new characterisation of China-Africa relations.”
Xi said China would eliminate tariffs on products from most of the world’s poorest countries, including 33 in Africa, in an expansion of existing tariff exemptions.
The relationship has moved beyond trade and investment to take on political overtones as China seeks allies in Africa and elsewhere to define the norms governing global economy and how countries interact with each other. — AP
