China Strengthens Ties with Africa

• 05 Sep 2024

On 5^th September, 2024, dozens of African leaders gathered in Beijing for a summit aimed at elevating China's relationship with Africa to a strategic level, signaling Beijing's growing influence in the continent.

Key Points

• Strategic Partnership Proposal: President Xi Jinping proposed elevating relations with African nations to a strategic level, emphasizing mutual understanding and support.
• China-Africa Relations: Since the founding of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2000, China has become a key player, heavily investing in African resources and infrastructure.
• Belt and Road Initiative: Chinese development banks have provided loans for infrastructure projects across Africa, advancing Xi's Belt and Road program.
• Trade Imbalance: While China is Africa's largest bilateral trading partner, African leaders seek to reduce the trade deficit by expanding agricultural exports and industrializing their economies.
• Tariff Elimination: President announced China's willingness to further open its markets by eliminating tariffs on products from the poorest countries, including 33 in Africa.
• Political Overtones: The relationship now extends beyond trade, as China seeks African allies in its competition with the U.S. for global influence and the establishment of international norms.