Xi's speech also included several promises to African nations in areas such as trade, connectivity, agriculture, health, green development, people-to-people exchange, and security. The Chinese government plans to provide RMB360billion (approximately $50.7B) to support these projects over the next three years.
Since its establishment in 2000, FOCAC has become the flagship platform for cooperation between China and African countries, playing a very significant role in promoting China's desire to enhance South-South cooperation in various development sectors. However, China is not alone in approaching African nations on a multilateral basis.
This year alone in September, Indonesia held its second Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) in Bali, and in June, South Korea hosted its first Korea-Africa Summit in Seoul. In July 2023, the second Russia-Africa Summit took place in St. Petersburg. In December 2022, the United States hosted the second U.S.-Africa Summit in Washington D.C., while Turkey held the Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit in Istanbul.
The rise of these high-level meetings between African nations and a host country, known as 'Africa+1' summits, suggests that the world is increasingly turning its gaze towards Africa. However, a closer look at the structure of such summits reveals the weak and marginal position African countries continue to occupy on the global stage.
Rethinking the 'Africa+1' Summit structure
The 'Africa+1' summits present opportunities for African countries. Whether it is China, Japan, the U.S., Turkey, Saudi Arabia, or Korea, these summits bring financial and diplomatic commitments that are appealing to African nations.
China emphasizes win-win cooperation, Indonesia hopes to revive the Bandung spirit of Asia-Africa solidarity, Japan aims to promote sustainable development, and Korea seeks to share its developmental experience with African countries, and so on and so forth.
While it is natural for African countries to welcome such cooperation deals, it is intriguing how easily individual countries can invite African heads of state to summitsâ€"something not seen with any other continent.
On one hand, this reflects the perceived importance of African nations, but on the other, it underscores the gullibility of African countries. Moreover, it is not always the case that when grouped together, African countries form a much stronger force in negotiations with the summit-hosting country.
The lack of unity among African heads of state raises doubts about whether African countries can present a cohesive front to counter the host nations' clearly defined agendas and strategies at these 'Africa+1' summits.
Africa is politically and socio-economically diverse, far from being unified. Countries like Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, and Sudan are grappling with internal conflicts. Inter-African trade remains low, regional integration is limited, and many nations are still working to eradicate poverty.
Each African country has its own unique context, challenges, and opportunities. Treating Africa as a single entity often leads to simplistic conclusions about how to best support growth and development on the continent.
How to move forward
In the evolving global geopolitical landscape, African countries have proven to be important partners. Africa's youthful population, vast natural resources, and diplomatic influence at the United Nations are strong incentives for engagement.
However, African countries need to demonstrate a readiness to leverage these attributes to claim their rightful place in international politics.
"I find that our leaders, who should have been working together all along to address these problems that commonly affect their countries, wait until they are invited to go to Europe to sit there and find solutions to their problems," remarked President Paul Kagame at the African Development Bank annual meeting in 2014.
It has been ten years, and little has changed. African Heads of state attend summits en masse, but their collective influence remains questionable. The developed world can provide financial support, but neither China nor the U.S. can bestow global power and influence upon Africa.
African countries must figure out how to build unity, assert their position, and establish themselves as significant players on the international stage. Africa does not always have to be the invited party; it should aspire to become the inviting one.
The Author is a Learning Coach at the African Leadership University
BA in International Studies from Yonsei University
MA in China Studies (Politics and International Relations) from Yenching Academy of Peking University
Claudine Ukubereyimfura
