Xinhua News Review: China and Africa Join Hands on a New Journey to Modernization in Africa | China | Xinhua

Nairobi, September 5th, Xinhua News Agency - Question: China and Africa Join Hands on a New Journey to Modernization

Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhou Chu Yun Tian Yun Jin Zheng

President Talon of the Republic of Benin recently paid a state visit to China. The two heads of state announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Benin, and jointly witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of deepening the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road", green development, digital economy, agriculture and food, health and hygiene. This is the first African head of state to visit China after the successful holding of the 15th BRICS Leaders Meeting and the China Africa Leaders Dialogue. The fruitful results of the visit provide new annotations for the vigorous development of China Africa cooperation in the new era.

Over the past 10 years, China has always adhered to this concept, worked with African friends to draw strength from the spirit of China Africa friendship and cooperation, firmly moved forward on the road of solidarity and cooperation, adhered to morality in the changing international situation, stood by and helped each other under the impact of the COVID-19, and pushed China Africa relations to a new level, entering a new stage of building a high-level China Africa community of common destiny.

At present, China is comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese path to modernization, and Africa is making every effort to build a new Africa that is peaceful, united, prosperous and self strengthening. As fellow travelers on the journey towards modernization, China and Africa are intensifying their planning for future practical cooperation, accelerating the alignment of their development strategies, and providing assistance for achieving their respective modernization visions. As President Talon said, high-quality cooperation and mutual benefit between Benin and China will effectively promote Benin's industrialization process and help Benin better achieve national development.

Infrastructure is a key support for Africa's development. Over the years, China has helped Africa build a large amount of connectivity infrastructure, conducted extensive cooperation with the African Union and various regional organizations, and assisted in the construction of Pan African landmark projects such as the African Union Conference Center and the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Since the establishment of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation 23 years ago, Chinese enterprises have added and upgraded over 10000 kilometers of railways, nearly 100000 kilometers of roads, nearly a thousand bridges, and nearly a hundred ports to Africa. They have built power supply and communication networks for multiple countries and made important contributions to promoting connectivity on the African continent. South African President Ramaphosa highly praised China's investment in infrastructure and energy construction for Africa at the China Africa Leaders' Dialogue, believing that it not only promotes diversified economic development and increases employment opportunities, but also improves the level of African integration.

Industrialization is the direction of modernization in Africa. Energy shortages severely hinder the industrialization process in Africa. China has implemented hundreds of clean energy power generation and grid projects in Africa, such as the Sakai photovoltaic power station in the Central African Republic, the Ruzibaqi hydropower station in Burundi, and the De'a wind power station in South Africa. These projects have improved the living conditions of local people, promoted the industrial development of African countries, and brought new opportunities for the diversification of African industrial economies. Africa has abundant natural resources and a large young population, which holds enormous industrialization potential. At the China Africa Leaders Dialogue, China proposed to launch the "Support Africa Industrialization Initiative" to mobilize China's cooperation resources and enterprises with Africa, support Africa's development of manufacturing industry, and achieve industrialization and economic diversification.

Agriculture is a pillar industry in many African countries. China helps African countries increase agricultural production and added value of agricultural products through technical assistance, and promotes the modernization of agricultural development in Africa. Benin is an important cotton producing country in Africa. The Chinese expert group has been providing cotton technology assistance here for ten years, promoting a significant increase in local cotton production and significantly increasing the income of cotton farmers. At the China Africa Leaders' Dialogue, China proposed to implement the "China Assists Africa in Agricultural Modernization Plan" to help Africa expand food crop cultivation, encourage Chinese enterprises to increase investment in African agriculture, strengthen agricultural technology cooperation in seed industry, and assist Africa in agricultural transformation and upgrading. Benin's expert on Central African issues, Ajovi, believes that this plan is of great significance to African countries.

Africa is known as the "youngest continent in the world". Chinese universities and enterprises have opened vocational education centers jointly built with local schools in countries such as Gabon, Uganda, and Ghana to recruit students. These centers not only offer traditional courses in machinery, electrical engineering, welding, but also involve emerging fields such as communication, programming, and e-commerce. While cultivating high-quality labor in the local area, they also bring employment opportunities to many African youth. Since the first Luban workshop in Africa landed in Djibouti in 2019, China has built more than ten Luban workshops in Africa, promoting the development and innovation of vocational education in Africa and becoming a "golden signboard" for Sino African education cooperation. At the China Africa Leaders Dialogue, China proposed to implement the "China Africa Talent Training Cooperation Plan". African Union Education, Technology, and Innovation Commissioner Mohammad Bel Hussein said that cooperation between China and Africa in various fields, especially in capacity building, will continue to promote higher economic growth in Africa.

The world today is full of changes and challenges, and China Africa cooperation is keeping pace with the times, presenting broader prospects and a bright future. In the new historical period, China Africa cooperation will further improve and upgrade, and both sides will stand at a new historical starting point to jointly write a new chapter of development, and forge a brighter future for building a community with a shared future between China and Africa.