Experts urge stronger Sino-African ties to boost economies

African officials and experts are calling on countries across the continent to deepen partnerships with China by leveraging platforms such as Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to boost the continent's economic growth and integration.

Anna Thandi Moraka, South Africa's deputy minister of international relations and cooperation, said African countries should harness their partnership with China to drive connectivity and green development initiatives across the continent.

She noted that during the 2024 FOCAC Summit in Beijing, China announced 10 modernization partnerships with Africa, aimed at addressing many of the continent's most pressing issues.

"These are not abstract pledges, but strategic instruments which, if well aligned with Africa's priorities under Agenda 2063, can accelerate our technological leap, close the infrastructure gap in the continent and reposition the continent as a global hub of innovation," Moraka said.

Additionally, she added, cooperation will support investment and industrialization initiatives that change lives, such as providing the infrastructure needed to facilitate transportation, and make the African Continental Free Trade Area a success.

Moraka emphasized that while Africa could not copy China's development model, it could adapt lessons from China's industrialization and infrastructure-led growth for its own resilience.

"It (Africa) also requires skills transfer to achieve these objectives," Moraka said. "It requires local content and joint ventures that can give African companies a stake in production chains that we have put together for the AfCFTA initiative".

"We also need to work together with the rest of the continent's member states to leapfrog in digital infrastructure," Moraka added, "and invest more in renewable energy that Africa is somewhat battling with."

Zeph Nhleko, chief economist at the Development Bank of Southern Africa, stressed the importance of African countries acquiring critical skills from China, pointing out that Chinese companies building infrastructure on the continent will also transfer expertise to local workers.

Nhleko also urged for innovative financing, noting that many African countries face high cost of debt servicing.

He suggested that African countries take advantage of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and China Development Bank to finance projects, as well as use Chinese partnerships to transition to clean energy and anchor industrialization efforts.

Dennis Mwaniki, executive director of the China-Africa Center at the Africa Policy Institute in Kenya, said FOCAC has enabled some African countries to grow their economies, reduce poverty, and attract investment.

He noted the uniqueness of FOCAC compared to relations with other big powers, which have limited financing for infrastructure, adding that China's Luban workshops continue to provide skills training across Africa.

Lwanda Maqwelane, researcher at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, a South African think tank, said China's decision to grant zero tariff to 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties would positively impact countries facing trade tariffs.

Maqwelane added that African countries must improve skills development and infrastructure capacity to fully benefit from China's trade deals.

Speaking to China Daily, Moraka expressed gratitude for China's zero-tariff policy, saying it will cushion countries in the Global South against the US imposed trade tariffs.

"We really want to appreciate the wisdom of President Xi in offering African countries - especially those that are participating in FOCAC - zero tariffs," Moraka said. "This will be an enabler for us to trade among each other, to grow our economies, and move away from the unipolar dominance towards the multipolar, where everyone's sovereignty must be respected."

"We want to thank Xi for the kind gesture and look forward to engaging China further as our strategic partner and progressive ally in several multilateral forums."