Experts sure of upcoming FOCAC summit's success

The upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit will offer hope to a world that is in turmoil and contribute to fostering peace and prosperity in the African continent, African politicians and experts said.

They anticipate that through the FOCAC framework, China and Africa will persist in mutually supporting each other's efforts to enhance economic development, peace and security.

Khamis Omar, Tanzania's ambassador to China, said that he has witnessed "very high enthusiasm" in both Africa and China during preparations for the 2024 FOCAC summit, which will be held in Beijing in early September.

"I have also witnessed an extremely high degree of cooperation and understanding," he said. "I have no doubt whatsoever that the summit will be a complete success and will live up to expectations."

He said that China and Africa have fundamentally agreed on areas of cooperation that have shaped the previous FOCAC programs. Hence there should be continuity on what both sides have started and there may be some adjustments needed to accommodate the latest dynamics.

"The cooperation should broadly be anchored around our common quest for economic modernization and transformation, development, peace and security, and cultural exchange," he said.

Both sides already have taken various initiatives that will need new impetus for implementation. The action plan drawn from the Beijing Summit will not deviate far from these areas, he added.

Nasser Bouchiba, president of the Africa-China Cooperation Association for Development in Morocco, said the convening of FOCAC comes as the world faces increasing turbulence and challenges, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Israel-Palestine conflict, the food crisis in certain countries and climate change.

"FOCAC brings hope, with China offering projects that promote peace and development," he said.

Over the past few years, Bouchiba has been collaborating with Chinese enterprises to export China's independently-developed new technologies to developing countries. For example, he has introduced China's seawater desalination technology to his home country of Morocco, where drinking water resources are extremely scarce.

"This technology, characterized by its short implementation cycle and high cost-effectiveness, meets the increasingly severe drinking water demands of Morocco's coastal cities," he said.

Furthermore, he began an experimental desert farming project in 2020, bringing cutting-edge soil enhancement technologies from Northwest China to the southeast part of Morocco. The positive outcomes are making people in arid areas optimistic about sustainable agriculture, which could reduce poverty and promote food security and stability, he added.

"There is significant potential for cooperation between China and Africa in the fields of technology and sustainable development. Unlike Western countries, China is very willing to transfer technology and know-how to Africa, which will greatly contribute to the economic development of Africa and the improvement of people's livelihoods," he said.

He hoped that the FOCAC would better serve as a platform to promote China-Africa cooperation, focusing on the interest of people and discussing development-oriented topics. Moreover, successful cooperation cases should also be promoted to other parts of Africa to help with their development, he added.

Ehizuelen Michael Mitchell Omoruyi, executive director of the Center for Nigerian Studies at the Institute of African Studies in Zhejiang Normal University, said that China acknowledges the importance of global cooperation, and plays an important role in enhancing African security by partnering with African countries, which is reflected in bilateral and multilateral Africa-China relations. The FOCAC platform and action plans have concentrated exclusively on Chinese-African cooperation and engagement in peace and security.

"All of these not only help mitigate the challenges posed by insecurity on the continent, but are also a clear indication that China is willing to support African countries in maintaining regional security and combating terrorism, and maritime piracy," he said.

He added that China has always been a willing and reliable partner in helping African countries address their pressing socioeconomic challenges. China's cooperation with Africa in tech innovations has made progress in recent years, with China proactively implementing tech innovation action plans under the Belt and Road Initiative and sharing sci-tech feats and experiences with numerous African nations.