The 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit took place in Beijing from September 4 to 6, with leaders from more than 50 African member states, regional African organizations, and international organizations gathering to discuss cooperation and the future of China-Africa relations.
Under the theme ““Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future”, Chinese and African leaders reflected on their friendship, discussed cooperation, and envisioned the future.
This summit marks the fourth major gathering of the China and African countries leaders following the 2006 Beijing Summit, 2015 Johannesburg Summit, and 2018 Beijing Summit.
It is also the largest diplomatic event hosted by China in recent years, with the highest number of international leaders in attendance.
At the summit, China and African leaders signed two key outcome documents, the “Declaration” and the “Action Plan,” setting the tone for implementing high-quality China-Africa cooperation over the next three years.
Leaders participated in four high-level meetings, focusing on topics such as governance, industrialization and agricultural modernization, peace and security, and high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
An important supporting event, the 8th China-Africa Business Forum, was held on September 6 at the National Convention Center in Beijing.
As the highest-level economic and trade event between Chinese and African business communities under the FOCAC framework, the forum has alternated between China and African countries since its inception in 2003.
This year’s forum, the first to be held offline since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, brought together Chinese and African business representatives to exchange ideas, form partnerships, and strategize for future cooperation.
The forum, attended by over 1,000 participants, featured keynote speeches from 12 Chinese and African entrepreneurs who shared insights on topics such as “Promoting Industrial and Supply Chain Integration” and “Driving Emerging Industries Development.”
It’s worth noting that ZTE Chairman Li Zixue delivered a speech, introducing the world’s first 5G+AI eyewear-free 3D tablet, the nubia Pad 3D II.
The nubia Pad 3D II, equipped with Neovision 3D Anytime technology, offers an eyewear-free 3D experience and can convert 2D content into 3D in real time, providing an immersive experience for users.
This cutting-edge product from ZTE was selected as an official gift to African heads of state at the summit, along with traditional Chinese handicrafts such as cloisonné porcelain.
In his speech, Zixue Li said: “Since entering the African market in 1997, ZTE has witnessed and participated in the iterative evolution of African communication technology from 2G to 5G. The networks we have built cover 400 million users across Africa, and we have established strategic cooperative relationships of mutual trust and win-win outcomes with operators and partners in more than 50 countries in the region. ZTE’s vision is to ‘make communication and trust ubiquitous.’ As China-Africa cooperation continues to deepen, ‘Made in Africa’ is ushering in vast development prospects. We hope that in the near future, the world’s first 5G+AI eyewear-free 3D tablet that I am holding will bear the mark of ‘Made in Africa’ from production lines across the continent.”
The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, established in 2000, has become a significant driving force for China-Africa relations.
China has been Africa’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, with China-Africa trade reaching $282.1 billion in 2023, a record high.
By the end of 2023, China’s direct investment in Africa exceeded $40 billion, making China one of the largest sources of foreign investment in the continent.
Over the past three years, Chinese companies have created more than 1.1 million jobs in Africa, demonstrating the strong momentum of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.
In a world of increasing instability, the unity and strong cooperation between China and African countries provide certainty and confidence.
The 2024 FOCAC Summit has become a focal point of international attention.
Over the past 24 years, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has adhered to the principles of “Consultation, Contribution, and Shared Benefits,” becoming a gold standard of China-Africa cooperation and a leading force in global cooperation with Africa.
