Commentary: China-Africa cooperation to make new history
By Wang Hongyi
The international situation has undergone tremendous changes since the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was established in 2000. Over the years, China and Africa have played bigger roles in the international political and economic landscape.
After the FOCAC summits in Beijing in 2006 and in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2015, the two-day meeting in Beijing this time, which is scheduled to kick off on Sept. 3, would be another grand family gathering for China and African countries.
Being the largest diplomatic event held by China this year, and the one that will be attended by the largest number of foreign leaders, the Beijing summit is bound to create new history.
Over the past years of development, the FOCAC has gradually upgraded its level. It has evolved from a transactional and regional forum into one that deals with strategic and global issues.
Numerous African leaders and the chairman of the African Union (AU) will attend the summit, as well as the United Nations Secretary-General as the special guest and 27 international and African groups as observers.
Currently, some countries are practicing unilateralism, protectionism and trade hegemony. Against such a backdrop, the upgrade of the forum by far-sighted Chinese and African leaders demonstrates the strategic importance of China-Africa ties.
In addition, the forum also expanded its effects over the past years. Despite the limited economic scale of Africa and China’s status as a developing country, China-Africa cooperation has realized the effect of “one plus one is greater than two”, creating huge influence on international pattern.
The establishment of the FOCAC successfully protected China’s rejuvenation from being hindered by western countries’ slanders. Over the years, China and Africa have been sincere and honest to each other.
Africa’s economy has been growing along with China’s rise, and most of the capital for the continent’s infrastructure construction comes from China. About a quarter of China’s international engineering contract projects are in Africa, and 1/5 of the gasoline consumed by Chinese people comes from Africa.
It is believed that the success of the Beijing summit will once again demonstrate the strong vitality of China-Africa unity and cooperation, boost the sound momentum of the overall development of the developing countries, and gather the righteous power from the international community to promote peaceful development.
Besides, the FOCAC has seen improved influence. Over the past 18 years since its establishment, the forum has been sticking to the principle of “seeking shared benefits through extensive consultation and joint contribution” and persisting in equal, pragmatic and efficient cooperation.
Under the framework of the FOCAC, the China-Africa cooperation has achieved remarkable results, winning recognition from both African people and the international community.
So far, the FOCAC has grown into a flagship of China-Africa cooperation, and a banner that leads Africa’s cooperation with the rest of the world and promotes South-South cooperation. It has brought tangible benefits to both Chinese and African people.
As the international situation is going through profound changes, the world is expecting the FOCAC Beijing summit to advance China-Africa cooperation and realize the dreams of the two sides.
(By Wang Hongyi, an associate researcher at the Institute of West-Asian and African Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.)
中非合作必将创造新的历史
王洪一
2000年中非合作论坛成立以来，国际形势发生了天翻地覆的变化。多年来，中国和非洲在国际政治经济版图的地位得到了大大提升。2018年中非合作论坛北京峰会将于9月3日至4日举行，这是中非合作论坛继2006年北京峰会和2015年约翰内斯堡峰会之后，中非友好大家庭的又一次大团圆，也是中国今年举办的规模最大、外国领导人出席最多的主场外交。这次峰会必将创造新的历史。
论坛规格升级。最初的中非合作论坛是事务性论坛，但今天的论坛已经是战略性论坛。以前的中非合作论坛是区域性论坛，今天是全球性论坛。今年的论坛北京峰会上，众多非洲国家领导人和非盟委员会主席将率团与会，联合国秘书长作为特邀嘉宾、27个国际和非洲地区组织作为观察员也将出席峰会有关活动。当前，有的国家大搞单边主义、保护主义、贸易霸凌主义，中国和非洲领导人高瞻远瞩，将中非合作论坛规格提升，显示了中非关系的战略重要性。
论坛效应升级。虽然非洲大陆经济规模有限，中国仍然是发展中国家，但1+1大于2，中非合作的效应巨大，是影响国际格局变化的巨大动能。中非合作论坛的建立，成功抵御了西方国家对中国复兴的造谣中伤。中国与非洲各国赤诚相对，多年以来，非洲经济增长曲线随中国崛起而脉动，非洲基础设施建设资金多半来自中国。中国国际承包工程的1/4来自非洲，每个中国老百姓的汽车油箱中1/5来自这一古老大陆。相信论坛北京峰会的成功举行，将再次彰显中非团结合作的强大生机，助推发展中国家整体发展的良好势头，汇聚国际社会促进和平发展的正义力量。
论坛影响升级。中非合作论坛成立18年来，坚持共商共建共享原则，形成平等务实高效特色，论坛框架下的中非合作成效显著，成果有目共睹，受到非洲人民一致欢迎和国际社会高度评价。如今，中非合作论坛已经成为中非合作的响亮品牌，也成为引领国际对非合作、提升南南合作的一面旗帜，给中非人民带来了实实在在的利益。在国际形势发生深刻演变背景下，中国和非洲如何携手迈向新征程，让中非人民的梦想交相辉映，中非合作论坛北京峰会牵动着世界的目光。
（作者为中国社会科学院西亚非洲研究所副研究员）
