The 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing from September 4 to 6 highlighted China’s deepening role in Africa’s economic development. Themed “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future,” brought together African heads of state and key Chinese leaders.
The discussions focused on strengthening partnerships in infrastructure, green development, and digital innovation. In response to African debt concerns, China shifted its lending policies, committing to smaller, risk-managed projects. These efforts align with Africa’s Agenda 2063, the African Union’s 50-year plan for inclusive growth, peace, prosperity, and a stronger global role.
The summit produced the FOCAC Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027), focussing on renewable energy, healthcare, education, and industrialisation. China pledged continued investments in Africa, while both sides emphasised cooperation on global challenges like climate change, poverty, and food security.
The China-Africa relationship is more intricate than it seems. Since its inception in 2000, FOCAC has largely operated within a donor-recipient framework, with China dictating the agenda and African countries responding. This imbalance has sparked concerns about whether African nations are truly reaping the benefits of this partnership or simply becoming economically reliant on China, highlighting the potential risks of such involvement.
China-Africa relations date back to the 1950s, with China supporting African anti-colonialism and anti-imperialist movements. China’s involvement grew in the 1970s, with key projects like the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, The establishment of FOCAC in 2000 shifted focus to economics, making China Africa’s largest trading partner, heavily investing in infrastructure, energy, and telecommunications to support its own growth needs.
China’s infrastructure projects like ports and energy plants, part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), have been instrumental in Africa’s development. China has provided capital for projects that would otherwise have languished. By 2023, Chinese firms had installed over 25 gigawatts of power generation capacity, and trade between China and Africa reached a robust $282 billion, a potential for mutual economic growth and development.
African countries are increasingly concerned about rising debt linked to Chinese loans, with nations like Zambia and Kenya fearing economic exploitation and potential asset seizures in case of defaults. The influx of Chinese workers for infrastructure projects has caused social tensions, as local communities feel marginalised by the lack of job opportunities. Despite criticism from Western powers viewing China’s presence as a geopolitical strategy, its influence in Africa continues to expand.
China’s heavy involvement in Africa is no coincidence. Africa has vast natural resources, from rare minerals to oil reserves, crucial to China’s industrial machine. Beyond resources, Africa’s markets offer significant opportunities for Chinese goods, and its geopolitical positioning makes it a key ally in global diplomacy. African nations, in turn, often support China on contentious international issues, such as Taiwan’s status and territorial claims in the South China Sea.
FOCAC provides a stage for China to assert its influence and further its ambition of becoming a global power. Yet, the imbalance in power dynamics between China and Africa must be addressed. While China is clear about its objectives, African nations have struggled to craft a unified strategy for engaging with China on their own terms. This leaves many African countries at a disadvantage, relying on state-to-state negotiations where their leverage is limited.
Western nations, particularly the US and EU, view China’s activities sceptically, accusing Beijing of pursuing “debt trap diplomacy.” They argue that China’s investments are designed to make African nations economically indebted to Beijing, ultimately giving China undue influence over the continent’s political decisions. The West has also launched initiatives like the Build Back Better World (B3W) to offer alternative funding sources to African nations, though these efforts remain in their infancy.
Japan and India are also increasing their involvement in Africa. Through platforms like the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), Japan aims to strengthen ties and counterbalance China’s dominance. India, too, has ramped up its engagement with Africa, mainly through trade and investment forums such as the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) and the India-Africa Defence Dialogue.
The 2024 FOCAC summit underscores the evolving nature of China-Africa relations. While China remains a crucial partner for Africa’s development, the power imbalance in this relationship continues to raise concerns. To truly benefit from this partnership, African nations must take the lead in developing a more cohesive and strategic approach to engaging with China, ensuring that they protect their sovereignty and secure long-term gains. Taking a proactive approach is crucial in navigating international relations.
As global competition for Africa’s resources and political alliances intensifies, the continent must navigate these external influences carefully. FOCAC’s outcomes may paint a picture of prosperity. Still, the true test will be whether Africa can emerge from these partnerships with greater autonomy, economic strength, and a sustainable path forward.
(The writer is an IT professional. Views personal)
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