Over the past 25 years since its establishment, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has vigorously spurred the dynamic growth of China-Africa cooperation, becoming a model of solidarity and cooperation among the Global South. 

During the Beijing Summit of the Forum last year in September, African leaders and Chinese leader President Xi Jinping unanimously agreed to jointly advance cooperation in the “six modernization fields” and implement the “10 Partnership Actions,” ushering China-Africa relations into a new stage of jointly building an all-weather community with a shared future in the new era. 

African countries must now resolve to defend international equity and justice and safeguard the international economic and trade order.

Unilateral concession cannot earn mutual respect. Both China and African countries must resolutely oppose any party reaching a compromise deal at the expense of the interests of other countries.

African countries, including Kenya, must be committed to the basic principles of sovereignty, equality and justice. They should continue upholding a common position in the face of external pressure. 

Both Africa and China should  unite to support and put into practice the vision of openness, cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, stay committed to advancing modernization, and make solid progress in building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. 

On the other hand, China must be ready to, through negotiating and signing the agreement of China-Africa Economic partnership for shared development, expand zero tariff treatment for 100 per cent tariff lines to all the 53 African Countries having diplomatic relations with China to welcome quality products from Africa to Chinese markets. 

China must be ready to work with Africa to deepen the implementation of the 10 partnership actions for modernization, prioritise cooperation in key areas such as green industry, e-commerce and e-payment, science and technology, Artificial Intelligence and enhance cooperation in security, finance and the rule of law to promote high quality development of China-Africa cooperation. 

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has become a fine example of solidarity and cooperation of the Global South.

The list of outcomes of the implementation of the follow-up action of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation provides a comprehensive, quantitative and tangible presentation of progress achieved. 

Against the current backdrop of complex and volatile international developments, China has remained committed to creating new opportunities for the world through the new achievements of Chinese modernisation and providing new momentum for African and other Global South partners with its vast market. 

China’s willingness to work with the African side to fully implement the 10 Partnership Actions, strengthen cooperation in key areas such as green industries, e-commerce and payments, science and technology, and artificial intelligence, deepen collaboration in security, finance, and rule of law, and promote high-quality is a welcome move. 

The writer is the chairman of the Political Journalists Association of Kenya (PJAK)