Special Feature | China Africa Cooperation jointly paints a new picture of development

Nairobi, October 26 (Xinhua) -- China Africa cooperation paints a new picture of development together

Xinhua News Agency reporter Xu Jiatong and Yan Yujing congratulate on behalf of others

In the golden autumn of October, the Forum on China Africa Cooperation celebrates its 25th anniversary. 25 years of working together to build a dream, China Africa relations have achieved a leapfrog improvement: from a new type of partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership, and then to an all-weather community with a shared future in the new era. The "Ten Major Cooperation Plans," "Eight Major Actions," "Nine Projects," and "Ten Major Partner Actions," one pragmatic blueprint after another, and one key project after another, have taken root. On this broad path of win-win cooperation, the "hard connectivity" of facilities solidifies the foundation, the "soft connectivity" of technology activates potential, and the "heart connectivity" of communication consolidates consensus. China and Africa are setting an example of global solidarity and cooperation in the South through vivid practice, working together to paint a new picture of mutually beneficial and win-win development.

Connecting facilities to build a solid foundation for development

Odienne is the main cashew producing region in Cote d'Ivoire. Previously, during the rainy season, the roads here were muddy and difficult to navigate, and external transportation was almost paralyzed, causing unbearable suffering for farmers.

Nowadays, a 228 kilometer two-way two lane highway constructed by China Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd. winds through the cashew fruit forest like a ribbon, connecting Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Mali. Access is no longer difficult, and the transportation time for agricultural products has been reduced to one-third of the original. The product can be shipped out faster and fresher, and the income has doubled! "Said local farmer Jacob happily.

All the way, all industries thrive. This road that connects the three countries and benefits thousands of households is a vivid reflection of the continuous consolidation of the foundation of African development through infrastructure connectivity.

Over the past 25 years, a large number of infrastructure projects have taken root in Africa under the framework of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation. From the Mombasa Nairobi Railway in East Africa to deep-water ports in West Africa, from highways in Nigeria to the Maputo Catembe Bridge in Mozambique... China has assisted Africa in building and upgrading nearly 100000 kilometers of roads, over 10000 kilometers of railways, nearly a thousand bridges, and nearly a hundred ports. The connectivity of the road network and the successive commissioning of ports and power stations have injected strong impetus into the process of regional integration in Africa.

Facility connectivity not only builds the "hard foundation" for development, but also stimulates Africa's endogenous "soft power". Taking the Ivory Coast highway project as an example, local employees accounted for over 90% of the project construction, creating nearly 4000 job opportunities, and African people gained job skills through participation. This "teaching people how to fish" model provides local people with opportunities to learn new knowledge and master new skills.

Kenyan economist James Hickswati said, "Infrastructure connectivity is reshaping the development landscape of Africa, bringing the fruits of globalization to the most remote villages

Empowered by technology, activating endogenous power

Amir Abdu, a herder from Edini village in Mauritania, drove his sheep towards a lush field of mushroom grass. This land, which was once eroded by yellow sand, has been revitalized by Chinese mushroom and grass technology.

This scene is a true portrayal of how China Africa technological cooperation empowers Africa's development. The Chinese mushroom grass, known as the "happy grass" by the local people, not only solidifies sand and protects soil with its strong root system, but also becomes a "green bank" for local herdsmen to achieve sustainable development. Thanks to the technology taught by Chinese experts, my sheep have gone from thin and weak to strong and healthy. Now that I have raised 10 healthy sheep, I have hope for life

From deserts to farmland, technology empowered seeds have been widely sown on the African continent. In Madagascar, the cumulative planting area of hybrid rice in China is about 90000 hectares, with a yield of 2 to 3 times that of local varieties, helping the country move towards food self-sufficiency; In Guinea Bissau, the Chinese agricultural technology team compiles textbooks and trains local agricultural technology experts; In Uganda, the yield of foxtail millet exceeds that of local varieties by three times, bringing tangible income to farmers. By the end of 2023, China will have established 24 agricultural technology demonstration centers in Africa, promoted over 300 agricultural technologies, increased local crop yields and income, and benefited more than one million small farmers.

The field of technological cooperation is constantly expanding. In terms of vocational education, Luban Workshop has been established in 15 African countries, becoming a shining business card for China Africa vocational education cooperation. Based on the actual needs of African countries, China has trained over 220000 talents of various types for Africa. In the field of healthcare, China has dispatched medical teams to 48 African countries, treating approximately 230 million patients and training over 80000 local medical personnel, leaving behind an "unbreakable medical team" for the local population.

China Africa cooperation is building a foundation of mutual trust through knowledge sharing, cultivating a continuous stream of endogenous driving force for Africa's development. Abdul said, "Chinese technology has illuminated our future

Guided by ideology, reshaping South South cooperation

Over the past 25 years, the Forum on China Africa Cooperation has developed into a comprehensive cooperation platform covering multiple fields such as politics, economy, society, culture, and security, forming a multi-level cooperation mechanism from summit meetings to high-level officials' meetings. The success of the forum is reflected in specific projects and the power of guiding ideas.

China has always adhered to the principles of truth, closeness, sincerity, and the correct view of righteousness and benefit in carrying out cooperation with Africa. China has fully implemented the G20 initiative to temporarily suspend debt repayment for the poorest countries, and has signed debt relief agreements or reached consensus with 19 African countries. China supports Africa's green transformation, and hundreds of clean energy and green development cooperation projects have been successfully implemented. From the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation in 2024 to the end of March 2025, Chinese enterprises have completed a turnover of 21.18 billion yuan in contracting projects in the field of clean energy in Africa; A special fund for China Africa green industry chain has been established, and 7 projects have been identified, involving an investment amount of 6.2 billion yuan.

Data shows that in 2024, the trade volume between China and Africa reached 295.6 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 4.8%, setting a new historical high for the fourth consecutive year. China has maintained its position as Africa's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. In the first five months of 2025, China's imports and exports to Africa reached 963 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 12.4%, setting a new historical high for the same period. China is one of the main sources of foreign investment in Africa. Since the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation in 2024, China's new investment in Africa has exceeded 13.3 billion yuan, and the total amount of financial support to Africa has exceeded 150 billion yuan. China announces the implementation of 100% tariff free products for 53 African countries with diplomatic relations.

More and more countries in the global South are starting to learn from the experience of China Africa cooperation and engage in equal and mutually beneficial South South cooperation. Heribert Rabel Achouvi, editor in chief of the African magazine "Diplomatic Labels", said that China never imposes its will on others in cooperation, but always respects the will of African countries for independent development. Professor Gas Sheldon from the School of International Relations at Kingsoft University in South Africa believes that the comprehensive friendly cooperation between China and Africa has created a new model of South South cooperation and is a model of mutual benefit, win-win cooperation, and common development in international relations.

Working hand in hand for 25 years is a mutually beneficial achievement. From infrastructure construction to technology transfer, from economic and trade exchanges to cultural exchanges, this path of cooperation that emphasizes effectiveness, equality, mutual benefit, and self-reliance and sustainability is constantly yielding more fruitful results.