Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Will Meet in Beijing
Sept. 2—The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will open in Beijing over Sept. 3-6, on the theme, “Joining Hands To Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.” FOCAC is a component of the organizing by the BRICS nations and the Global Majority to construct a new world development order, based on real production, industrialization, and infrastructure.
China’s Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong reported on Aug. 23 that this year's FORAC would be the “largest diplomatic event China has hosted in recent years”; the heads of many African states, the African Union Commission, and African regional organizations will attend. On Sept. 5, Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the formal Opening Ceremony and deliver the keynote. FOCAC has met every three years since its founding in 2000.
On Aug. 29, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian identified the three core items of the agenda: “Realizing modernization is the common pursuit of China and African countries. China firmly supports Africa in exploring the path of independent development and focuses on the three areas where modernization is most needed. We launched the Initiative on Supporting Africa’s Industrialization, and implemented the Plan for China Supporting Africa’s Agricultural Modernization, and the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development under the framework of FOCAC to support Africa’s development and prosperity with concrete steps.”
Many of these projects were initiated as part of China's global; development of transportation and industrial corridors under the New Silk Road, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Lin continued, “Infrastructure development is a priority. China has helped many African countries build their first motorway, first cross-sea bridge, and first industrial park. Trade and economy is a leading area of cooperation. The China-Africa trade volume last year hit a record high of $282.1 billion. By the end of 2023, the stock of Chinese direct investment in Africa exceeded $40 billion. Over the past three years, we’ve helped create over 1.1 million jobs in Africa.”
Chinese companies have installed over 25 GW of electrical generation capacity in Africa, making up more than 15% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s installed electricity generation capacity.
Since 2005, Africa has increased its exports to China from approximately $20 billion, to $100 billion in 2022.