Dynamic developers

China-Africa cooperation is the largest and most dynamic form of South-South cooperation. It is comprehensive, cooperative and strategic. It is based on mutual respect and the principle of win-win cooperation. China and Africa share common aspirations for development and prosperity.

Both are committed to developing a fair global governance system and represent the solidarity spirit of the Global South.

It is the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2025.Significant achievements in trade, investment, infrastructure development and people-to-people relations have been recorded over the 25 years. However, we also need to recognize that the potential for China and Africa is still to be fully tapped, and we should scale up our joint efforts to release that potential. For instance, bilateral trade has increased from over $10 billion in 2000 to $282 billion in 2023. Research indicates that the trade volume between Africa and China has more potential for further growth over the next decade. During the past 25 years, China's foreign direct investment flow to Africa reached around $50 billion. However, given Africa's demographic and economic transformation, there are vast opportunity and necessity for massive productive investment to create jobs, exports and productive capacity. Significant infrastructure development — energy, transport, communications — was achieved during this period. China and Africa have substantial opportunities for green transformation and building of a carbon-neutral economy through a joint effort.

In his speech at the FOCAC Beijing summit in September 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that the founding of the forum was a milestone in the history of China-Africa relations. He proposed that bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China will be elevated to the level of strategic relations, and that the overall characterization of China-Africa relations will be elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

Furthermore, he also stressed the vital features and urgency of modernization in support of the African Union's Agenda 2063, the continent's development blueprint over a 50-year period.

In his speech, President Xi stressed that over the next three years, China will work with Africa to take partnership actions for modernization in the following respects, including deepening China-Africa cooperation and spearheading the modernization of the Global South; mutual learning among civilizations; trade prosperity; industrial chain cooperation; connectivity; development cooperation; health; agriculture and people's livelihoods; people-to-people exchanges; green development; and common security.

At the Beijing summit, significant attention was given to accelerating Africa's industrialization and developing industrial chain cooperation, modernizing agriculture and food security, energy cooperation, the digital economy and financial cooperation. China has removed all import tariffs on goods from 33 African countries and has taken the initiative to apply alternative payment systems for cross-border trade. Both sides should maximize their cooperation and efforts to achieve these shared goals and aspirations.

More importantly, China has remained a source of inspiration and development experiences for African countries in poverty reduction, industrialization, infrastructure development, urban development, human development, economic catch-up, and economic governance. Policy learning is a vital dimension of China-Africa cooperation. I have been involved in Ethiopia's continuous endeavor to learn from China's reform and opening-up journey over the past more than four decades.

China is at the forefront of the global fight for sustainability and a carbon-neutral economy. China is the leader in renewable energy, accounting for over 80 percent of solar power production and contributing to massive cost reduction and accessibility. China is also the world's leading manufacturer of electric vehicles and battery storage. In the past decade, China has emerged as one of the innovation and technological leaders, in many fields such as renewable energy and electrification — solar, wind, green hydrogen, automotive and digital technologies. In comparison, Africa has a massive demand for clean and renewable energy. It accounts for over 60 percent of the potential for global solar energy. Africa must also create millions of jobs, generate exports and develop its industrial capacity.

I genuinely believe in the potential and impact of what I describe as a new green pact for Africa as one of the drivers of Africa's green transition and economic transformation. This pact will bring together China's capability and African requirements for a better future. It will also manifest the vision of a shared future for the Global South. This cooperation should be comprehensive and include green financing, investment, industrial capacity, knowhow transfer and a common position on climate justice.

The vision for China-Africa cooperation should be more resilient in meeting people's expectations. It should also aim to promote multilateralism and a multipolar world, reform the international financial architecture, and reform the United Nations system and Bretton Woods institutions. New institutions should be established to accelerate economic growth, sustainable development and build a prosperous future.

Let China-Africa cooperation live forever. Let us work for a prosperous, shared future.

The author is former senior minister and special adviser to the prime minister of Ethiopia. The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

Contact the editor at editor@chinawatch.cn.