By Xin Ping
When the Chinese talk about Africa, they often start with the pet phrase "our African brothers." Indeed, what's between China and Africa, the largest developing country and the continent home to the largest number of developing countries in the world, is a brotherly friendship that runs deeper than many Westerners could understand and has stood the test of time and international vicissitudes.
What brings China and Africa close together?
The time-honored friendship between China and Africa dates back to ancient times. It features such beautiful stories as that of Zheng He, the famous Chinese navigator in the Ming Dynasty, leading the most advanced fleet of the time to what is now Somalia and Kenya. What he brought to Africa was not a war of plunder, but specialties like silk, porcelain and tea, and friendship from the Chinese people.
An iron-clad brotherhood was forged when China and African nations fought side by side for national independence and liberation in modern times and is further strengthened as they strive to reshape the future of their respective countries and help and support each other every step of the way.
Touching stories about this abound. The most memorable ones are probably those of African nations and other developing countries "carrying" the New China into the United Nations", and China helping Africa build the TAZARA Railway in the 1970s when it was struggling against poverty itself.
"A friend in need is a friend indeed" is the best description of the mutual support and assistance between China and Africa, which has become a defining feature of the China-Africa relationship.
Since the inception of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 24 years ago, China-Africa cooperation has gained new momentum. Under FOCAC, China has launched several assistance initiatives in support of Africa's modernization drive, helped many African countries build their first motorways, first cross-sea bridges, and first industrial parks, and rolled out numerous livelihood projects to the tangible benefit of the African people.
Some in the West accused China of "neocolonialism" in Africa, and they are turning the truth upside down. When commenting on China's cooperation with Africa, Saudi Arabian Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan was very straightforward: "It's about time that we set the record straight. China stepped up when people actually shied away from Africa. China built infrastructure that they cannot carry with them to China. And China took the risk when people didn't want to take the risk. So, instead of balking China, we should just show them love, work with them, and try to make the common framework work."
Where is China-Africa cooperation going?
With similar historical experiences and shared aspirations for a prosperous future, China and Africa make natural partners in the quest for modernization. That's why Chinese President Xi Jinping's proposal of building a China-Africa community with a shared future has been widely echoed and recognized as the way to go among African countries.
In sharp contrast with China's Africa policy is the West's often condescending attitude toward the continent. Despite their touting of "involvement" and "contributions", the West has come to Africa more for self-serving purposes than delivering for the African people. And the Western-style democracy and the so-called "good governance" prescribed by the West for Africa simply didn't work.
Such programs end up backing corrupt leaders in exchange for unfettered access to natural resources, leaving the continent awash with more political unrest, coups, violence, and even terrorism than any other region in the world.
While the "Washington Consensus" failed to bring the desired results to Africa as Tanzanian Foreign Minister January Yusuf Makamba bluntly pointed out, the "China-Africa Dar es Salaam Consensus" is increasingly gaining traction as a viable alternative for developing countries to achieve their dreams by finding a development path best suited to their national conditions and culture, debunking the myth that "modernization equals Westernization."
What are China and Africa fighting for？
China's support for Africa is not limited to the economic realm. It champions Africa's endeavor to become an important pole in the contemporary world politically, economically, and culturally.
Guided by the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests, China has consistently made its relations with Africa a "priority" and "bedrock" of its foreign policy. Chinese foreign ministers' 34-consecutive-year tradition of making their first overseas trip of the year to Africa speaks volumes about China's commitment.
While supporting Africa's efforts to seek strength through unity and a greater role in global governance, and standing up for Africa's legitimate rights and interests in the international fora, China has worked in solidarity with African nations to safeguard the common interests of the vast developing countries in the Global South and to promote the building of a more fair and equitable international order for all.
Such is the China-Africa cooperation, built on sincerity, equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, and with no political strings attached. It has set a good example of how Global South countries can navigate the complicated and fluid international landscape to meet domestic and global challenges and achieve joint progress.
(The author is a commentator on international affairs, writing regularly for Xinhua News, Global Times, China Daily, CGTN etc. He can be reached at xinping604@gmail.com.)
