From the Bandung Conference in 1955 to today's China-Africa cooperation frameworks, the relationship has evolved beyond symbolism into one of measurable impact. The question now is not whether Africa and China need each other, but rather why they must stand together more firmly than ever.
The recently concluded Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), held in Changsha, Hunan Province, in June 2025, served as a critical reaffirmation of this strategic alliance.
It brought together over 700 African participants, including 111 ministerial officials, three national leaders, 77 ministers, and 33 foreign ministers.
'I think that is the reason for the high attendance and high-level representation at the Changsha meeting,' said Du Xiaohui, Director of the African Affairs Department at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking to visiting journalists in Beijing on June 18, 2025.
'Because of the changes in the international landscape, the biggest source of instability has made everyone realise that there is a necessity for the global South, and for China and Africa, to send a message of solidarity,' he added.
This message was clearly articulated in the Changsha Declaration, a document which framed solidarity through four key messages: the severity of global challenges, their root causes, a shared vision of cooperation, and a commitment to action.
One such action is unilateral. 'We are not seeking reciprocity from African countries,' said Du. 'We are unilaterally granting the treatment to African products.'
Africans being given a fish or taught how to fish?
The numbers speak for themselves: Africa is not merely a passive recipient of Chinese aid. It is an increasingly active partner shaping its own destiny. Since the 2024 Beijing Summit, China has committed 360 billion yuan to Africa over three years.
So far, nearly 150 billion yuanâ€"roughly 40 percentâ€"has already been disbursed. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, China-Africa trade reached USD 72.6 billion, an increase of 2.7 percent.
Infrastructure tells an even more compelling story. China has helped Africa build and upgrade more than 100,000 kilometres of roads and 10,000 kilometres of railways. Over 1.1 million jobs have been created in just three years.
Additional investments include 13.38 billion yuan in new ventures, 55.45 billion yuan in infrastructure financing, and 40.57 billion yuan in credit to African financial institutions.
Rwanda, for instance, has emerged as a standout partner. The country has signed multiple cooperation frameworks with China, from Belt and Road agreements to partnerships in digital education and green development.
China has dispatched medical teams, constructed solar power stations, and helped set up vocational training centres. More importantly, Rwanda has leveraged these tools to fuel its transformation, from developing local manufacturing to becoming a regional leader in digital innovation. Clearly, the fishing rod is being used.
At the heart of this partnership lies a response to global inequities. In recent years, some Western countries have imposed sweeping tariffsâ€"even on Least Developed Countriesâ€"and implemented restrictive immigration and remittance policies.
These actions, Du warned, 'will cause a decrease of 0.4% in the GDP of African countries' and risk returning the world 'to a system governed by the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak.'
Against this backdrop, China's gestures take on deeper meaning. President Xi Jinping's message to the Changsha meeting announced that China will grant zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent of tariff lines to 53 African countries, covering both LDCs and non-LDCs.
'This is not a restriction,' said Du. 'It is China's effort in carefully reviewing domestic and international proceduresâ€"a method we have developed, something we must do.'
To date, 27 African countries have signed the Comprehensive Agreement on Deepening Economic Partnership Agreement (CATIPA) with Chinaâ€"essentially a modern, high-standard free trade deal. It not only lowers tariffs but also eases non-tariff barriers such as customs clearance, market access, and quality inspections.
Beyond trade, the partnership is expanding into green industries, artificial intelligence, e-commerce, payment systems, and even rule-of-law and security frameworks.
'People say that Africa is lagging behind in technology, but we don't think so,' said Du. 'China is ready to make China's opportunities the opportunities of Africa.'
Why do Africa and China need to stand firmly together? Because in a world increasingly fractured by power politics, rising protectionism, and climate emergencies, the two sides offer each other something rare: mutual respect, real results, and a shared vision.
From zero-tariff commitments to cooperation in AI, the partnership is no longer about aid or dependencyâ€"it's about rebalancing global power.
As Du put it: 'We are ready to work with our African friends to be personally involved in and contribute to higher-quality cooperation between our two sides.'
Christian Mugisha
