China-Africa relations have become an important axis of global politics in recent years. The initiative to elevate dialogue and political communication between the two sides, led by President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, is an important milestone in the transformation of these relations. The new approach proposed by Xi aims to transform the traditional Chinese diplomacy, which is centered around the principle of “non-interference in the internal affairs” of African countries, leaving behind the ideological conflicts of the 1950s and 1960s, into a more in-depth model of political cooperation.
As a strategic continuation of China’s Confucian foreign policy and the “small steps” diplomacy of Deng Shiaoping, this shift creates a ground for questioning the West’s political-economic order shaped by the Washington Consensus. The policies of the Washington Consensus, which embraced free-market reforms, often deepened economic inequalities and led to socio-political unrest in African countries. In contrast, the Beijing Consensus offers an alternative approach built on principles such as non-interference in the internal affairs of countries, mutual respect and the promotion of the Chinese development model. In this regard, China under Xi’s leadership represents a normative aspect of the global order, demonstrating a commitment to greater friendship, cooperation and long-term sustainable development in its relations with Africa.
The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) development model is based on four key elements that distinguish it from other Western political systems: (i) goal setting, (ii) integration and coordination, (iii) resource mobilization, and (iv) responsibility to the people. Each of these elements are key features that shape the CCP’s capacity to both lead different proletarian[1] masses towards development and maintain its legitimacy within the framework of Maoism:[2]
1. Goal Setting and Legitimacy: The CCP has been quite successful in achieving both ideological unity within the party and popular support by setting national goals with a long-term perspective. The party has not limited these goals to economic growth alone; it has put forward a comprehensive vision of development that encompasses areas such as social welfare, environmental sustainability and technological progress. This goal-oriented approach allows the CCP to adopt a more strategic orientation compared to the short-term political cycles seen in liberal democracies.
2. Integration and Coordination: The CCP’s centralized authority has made public administration more effective by ensuring integration across the country. The fear of fragmentation, especially in China’s modern history, has further increased the importance of a centralized authority and its visibility in international relations. By allowing different models of regional development, the Party allowed for innovative experimentation and integrated it into overall development plans. This offers a model where reform and stability can be managed simultaneously.
3. Resource Mobilization: The CCP’s historical experience of mobilization still serves as an effective tool of governance in contemporary China. The Party has the capacity to mobilize the population to achieve both economic and ideological goals. Its rapid and effective response mechanism, especially in times of crisis, ensures the strategic use of resources.
4. Public Responsibility and Legitimacy: The CCP has a responsive governance approach through its deep ties with both its own people and the international community. The strong presence of party organizations at the grassroots allows them to both follow the demands of the people more closely and shape public policies accordingly.
In this context, Xi’s discourses at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summits present China’s development model as a source of inspiration for African countries and propose this model as a guide for Africa’s sustainable development process. Drawing on China’s multi-polar global progress over the past few decades, the discourses emphasize that African countries can draw on these experiences to achieve their development goals.[3]
The FOCAC Summit held on September 4-6, 2024 marked a critical turning point in the evolving dynamics of China-Africa relations. China led 53 high-level African delegations (including 36 presidents and prime ministers), making FOCAC the most prominent actor in the “Africa+1” summits. Headlines such as the $50.7 billion financial commitment made by President Xi at the summit attracted media attention. This summit reflects a broader normative vision of reshaping China’s role in global governance and elevating its relationship with Africa to a long-term, strategic partnership.[4]
The 2024 Summit marked an important turning point in China-Africa relations. China defines its presence in Africa not only as an economic partner but also as an important political ally in Africa’s development process. Xi’s call to elevate China-Africa relations to a strategic level and build a “China-Africa community with a shared future” shows that China aims to build long-term cooperation and provide greater political and economic support for Africa’s development journey.[5] This relationship rejects Western-centric international structures and norms, focusing in particular on calls for reforms in global governance institutions such as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and alternatives to the Western understanding of modernization.[6]
China’s modernization model was presented throughout the summit as an alternative to the Western development paradigm, and the concept of modernization was articulated as a right that must be realized according to a country’s own cultural, social and historical context. This discourse, especially the idea that the Western-imposed model of modernization is incompatible with Africa’s realities, resonates with the thinking of many African leaders and societies. Xi has seen modernization not only in economic terms but also in terms of political and social governance, allowing for an approach that recognizes the right of both sides to choose their own path. In this context, China has made concrete promises of support to Africa in areas such as digitalization, industrialization and modernization of agriculture. This aspect of China’s engagement with Africa also reflects a strategy in which China aims to strengthen demands for reforms in global governance. China emphasizes that the current international structure, in which Africa does not have a permanent seat in the UNSC, ignores Africa’s needs. China’s support for strengthening Africa’s role in global governance is critical to realizing such reforms in Africa.[7]
In economic terms, China’s commitments to Africa are not limited to financial figures. Development-oriented investments such as education, digital cooperation, agricultural modernization and infrastructure projects are projects that will affect millions of people in Africa. China’s “soft power” approach aims to offer long-term commitments towards Africa’s sustainable development. Initiatives such as the “Framework Agreement on China-Africa Economic Partnership” announced at the FOCAC 2024 Summit envisage strengthening the institutional foundations of economic relations between Africa and China and more flexible trade arrangements.
The Chinese foreign policy of the Xi era reflects the necessity of questioning the international order and the understanding of political power shaped by the West in the development process of African countries. In this framework, it criticizes the limitations of Western-centered neoliberal development models and argues that Africa should develop development strategies in line with its local conditions and needs. This proposal suggests that China’s independent approach to its own development process can be considered as an alternative model for Africa.
The transition process that underpins China’s economic development success is presented in Xi’s speeches as an instructive experience for Africa’s economies in transition. In this context, certain aspects of China’s reform policies can be instructive for African countries:
- Timing and sequencing: The gradual implementation of reforms and the correct sequencing of priorities are emphasized as an effective way to accelerate economic development.
- Identifying Priority Sectors: China’s focus on sectors such as agriculture, industry and infrastructure provides a strategic model that can guide the development policies of African countries.
- Key Development Elements: It is stated that development processes should be supported by central planning, state support and broad public participation.
Xi argues that African countries need to approach reforms within the framework of a strategy to accelerate their development processes. This strategy should be based on a holistic approach that includes both economic and social dimensions of development. China’s “innovative, win-win, green, open and shared development” offers a framework that can support Africa’s sustainable development goals.
In conclusion, China’s relations with Africa mark an important transformation in the new balance of power and global governance paradigm in the context of international relations. By advocating for greater African representation in multilateral platforms such as the UNSC and the G20, China proposes an alternative structure to Western dominance in global decision-making processes. In this context, China pursues a foreign policy based on the principle of non-interference in Africa’s internal affairs, while standing against neocolonialism and demanding a fairer global governance and development assistance from Western powers. In addition, China supports increasing the role of African countries in the global economic and political sphere, encouraging them to have a greater say in development processes. Thanks to this strategic approach, China’s visibility in Africa is gradually increasing and China continues to consolidate its global power through its relations with Africa and to become a more prominent and normative actor in the international arena.
[1] “Chairman Mao Zedong’s Theory on the Division of the Three World and the Strategy of Forming an Alliance Against an opponent”, Ministry of Foreign Affairs The People’s Republic of China, https://www.mfa.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zy/wjls/3604_665547/202405/t20240531_11367535.html,(Date of Access: 29.12.2024).
[2] Jimmy Yab, “Building A China-Africa Community of Shared Responsibility”, Xi Jinping and the Construction of a China-Africa Community of Destiny, https://shorturl.at/Fo7f1, (Date of Access: 29.12.2024).
[3] “Beijing Declaration on Jointly Building an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era”, Ministry of Foreign Affairs The People’s Republic of China, https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/xw/zyxw/202409/t20240905_11485993.html, (Date of Access: 29.12.2024).
[4] “China offers Africa $51 billion in fresh funding, promises a million jobs”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/china-deepen-industrial-agricultural-trade-investment-ties-with-africa-2024-09-05/, (Date of Access: 29.12.2024).
[5] “Beijing Declaration on Jointly Building an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era”, Ministry of Foreign Affairs The People’s Republic of China, https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/xw/zyxw/202409/t20240905_11485993.html, (Date of Access: 29.12.2024).
[6] “What FOCAC 2024 Reveals About the Future of China-Africa Relations”, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2024/11/what-focac-2024-reveals-about-the-future-of-china-africa-relations?lang=en, (Date of Access: 29.12.2024).
[7] Ibid.
