By Charles Onunaiju
From the 13th to the 18th of January the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Wang Yi, visited four African countries in keeping with the more than three decades’ tradition where Chinese foreign ministers start their yearly diplomatic work with a call to Africa. However, while these calls or visits have become a routine of China’s diplomatic practice, it is not an empty ritual. Its content is in the tradition of the China-Africa pragmatic cooperation defined by mutual consultation and tangible outcomes. It is neither opportunistic nor paternalistic but rather engages in the specific issues of concern of the particular country in relation to bilateral cooperation with Beijing and the overall framework of the broader and comprehensive Sino-Africa cooperation.
The year’s visit, which took foreign minister Wang Yi to Egypt and Tunisia in North Africa and Togo and Ivory Coast in West Africa reflect the broad dynamics and vigour of China’s African diplomacy in addressing existential practical concerns of the region. Symbolically, it gives tangible weight to China’s longstanding diplomacy and foreign policy commitment to the equality of all states in the international system, irrespective of size.
Key issues of foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit include the outcomes of China-Africa leaders’ dialogue held in August 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa, with three initiatives, industrialization, agricultural modernization and manpower or talent development, identified as critical cooperation items to be focused and implemented. These issues are at the heart of Africa’s contemporary challenges to not only realise and attain a considerable measure of self-sustaining economic dynamism and ensure optimization of potentials but would give concrete effect to regional economic integration through extensive trade and realizing the benefits of a regional market.
Togo, a small country in West Africa, whose main economic stay is agriculture would be in line for the important initiative of Agricultural modernization. While foreign minister Wang Yi was in Togo, the government reiterated her important foreign policy fundamental of strict One-China policy and putting in context, the recent election in the Taiwan region of China as purely local affair and matter of internal affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
In Ivory Coast, foreign minister Wang Yi was met with emotional warmth as the country host the 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations Football fiesta where the four stadiums for the competition were built with Chinese assistance. The also visiting U.S Secretary of State, Mr. Anthony Blinken, just immediately after his Chinese counterpart had a taste of the practical and tangible outcomes in China-Africa cooperation as he joined his Ivorian host to watch a game in one of the stadiums built with Chinese assistance in the capital city of Abidjan.
The Ivorian leadership expressed warm appreciation to China for always caring for the practical needs of the country and providing tangible support in various fields and added that Africa looks forward to taking part in the next meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
In Egypt and Tunisia with long standing diplomatic cooperation with China, foreign minister Wang Yi made bold on issue that is broadly the concern of the sub-region. In Egypt which shares the Refah border with Palestinian Gaza, the scene of humanitarian catastrophe from Israel’s relentless military attack in its confrontation with HAMAS, and reiterated the urgency for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. It was also a moment to add vigour to Sino-Egypt cooperation, as Egypt was the first in Africa to establish diplomatic relation with modern China in 1956 after her founding 1949. Tunisia reaffirms its participation in the Belt and Road Framework of International Cooperation. In the overall, the 4-nation tour of the Chinese foreign minister in continuation of 34-year-old tradition resonates with innovative and tailored approach in the specific context of bilateral relations and the wider framework of multi-lateral international cooperation.
It also serves the purpose of mutual consultations in the development of agenda for the 9th ministerial conference or the 4th Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to hold later this year.
For its unique dynamism as a platform of traditional consultations and a critical framework to outlining practical issues along with its symbol of spotlighting Africa on the global scene at the start of every year, Washington decided this year to catch the cruise of basking in Africa’s diplomatic sunlight with the Secretary of State, Mr. Anthony Blinken in toe of his Chinese counterpart in a 4-nation tour of Africa. Washington’s agenda is also weighty in grand eloquence but Africa has consistently urged partners to walk their talk because the existential challenge of the region and the crucial roles, it could play to shape an inclusive global system of multilateralism through consultations and coordinations, go beyond simplistic acknowledgements.
MR. Blinken from the 21st to the 26th of January also toured Ivory Coast, Cabo Verde, Nigeria and Angola. Across his tour, the U.S Secretary of State continuously raise issues of security and Washington’s support to battle insurgents and defeat extremism in the region. In Ivory Coast, while the President Mr. Alassane Quattra applauded U.S concerns for the region, also highlighted his government commitment to improving the quality of lives to the citizens.
Unlike in the explicit strategy of seeking to contain China and Russia in Africa in a paper published in 2021, MR. Anthony Blinken refrained from telling his African hosts to beware of China or even Russia. Washington’s Africa diplomacy seemed to be adjusting to the reality that Africa has come of age as one former Nigeria leader put it and need not be told how to choose her friends.
African leaders have in recent times expressed very clearly that the region do not intend to be a theatre of major power conflict but would welcome partnership from across the world not only to engage issues about Africa but for peace and sustainable global security built through broad consultations. For finding numerous common grounds; from equitable and balanced development to collective security, climate action and inclusive governance architecture that reflects the concerns and aspirations of all states in the global system, China-Africa have pivoted “a community of shared future” in which respect for differences, extensive consultations and dialogue define cooperation and relations that is always on the threshold of breaking new grounds.
As Washington has joined in the early year sunshine of diplomatic foray in Africa, it is advised that it listens more to the voices in the region about their real and practical concerns and lecture less about the hyperbolic ideals incompatible with the existential strivings of the people in the Africa.
•Mr. Onunaiju is the director, Centre for China Studies, Abuja, Nigeria