Month: September 2024

FOCAC 2024: Strengthening China-Africa ties for a shared future

By: Malik Ayub Sumbal, Journalist and geopolitical analysis

 

The logo of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) near the China National Convention Center in Beijing, China, August 29, 2024. The FOCAC summit is taking place in Beijing from September 4 to 6. /Xinhua
Editor’s note: Malik Ayub Sumbal, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is an award-winning journalist, geopolitical analyst and author of the book Tovuz to Karabakh, A Comprehensive Analysis of War in South-Caucasus. The article reflects the author’s opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Beijing is all set to host African leaders at the landmark 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), a key event aimed at deepening political and economic ties between China and African nations.
This summit marks a significant step forward in the ongoing efforts to foster a shared future destiny based on mutual respect and benefit. As Beijing rolls out the red carpet for African leaders, the forum is set to become the biggest participation of African leaders outside of the African Union.
China-Africa cooperation through FOCAC and will not only deepen the existing economic and political bonds, but also elevate the strategic partnership between the two regions. African nations, endowed with rich natural resources, have been historically exploited by the United States and some other Western countries. In the past decades, African nations have increasingly turned towards China for cooperation that promises win-win outcomes. This shift represents a collective move towards setting up partnerships that benefit both sides equally.

A comparative analysis of China’s cooperation in Africa and the Western exploitation of African resources reveals a stark contrast in the approaches of the two. Beijing’s strategy in Africa is fundamentally different, focusing on mutual benefit and respect. In contrast, the colonial and post-colonial approaches of the U.S. and other Western countries have often led to setbacks, best illustrated by France’s recent challenges in the Sahel region of Africa.

China’s involvement in Africa is most visible through its investments in infrastructure development. Under multiple programs, including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has significantly contributed to developing and upgrading infrastructure across the continent. The construction of roads, bridges, railways, and other key infrastructures has facilitated faster transportation and improved communication networks in many African countries. Ranging from Djibouti in the northeast to Nigeria in the west and Angola in the south, about 50 countries across the continent are witnessing rapid infrastructure development through Chinese support. New electricity projects, seaports and airports, highways and water supply projects are aimed at sustainable development instead of extraction alone.

China’s contribution extends beyond infrastructure into critical sectors such as health. The Chinese government has played a crucial role in upgrading healthcare facilities and addressing epidemics across Africa. This support has been instrumental in improving the overall health standards in many regions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese support for African nations demonstrated a sense of humanity and shared friendship beyond borders.

Education is another area where Africa has benefited from its cooperation with China. African students who have been awarded opportunities to study in China’s universities have been equipped with knowledge and skills to contribute to their countries’ development.

In times of emergency or calamity, China has consistently been among the first nations to respond, and it has done so remarkably swiftly. Whether it’s a natural disaster, health crisis, or humanitarian emergency, China has demonstrated its commitment to swiftly providing aid and support to affected regions. The prompt dispatch of medical teams, relief supplies, and financial assistance has often made a significant difference in mitigating the impact of these crises.

China not only supports African nations through emergency aid, but also through various grant projects aimed at supporting welfare projects throughout the continent. Even in the post-pandemic era, China is leading the way through various programs to support governments in their economic recovery efforts. This proactive and compassionate approach has further solidified China’s reputation as a reliable partner in Africa, one that stands by its commitments not only in times of prosperity but also during challenging periods.

Trade between China and Africa has also reached new heights, with China being Africa’s largest trading partner. In the first seven months of 2024, China’s imports and exports to Africa reached 1.19 trillion yuan ($167 billion), a year-on-year increase of 5.5 percent. The implementation of a free trade agreement among African nations could help China and Africa strengthen trade relations more sustainably. Given that China is viewing Africa as a long-term partner, there is a possibility of more diversified and balanced growth in the economic and trade sectors.

China’s approach to Africa is driven by a vision of mutual development and engagement, in stark contrast to the historical exploitation by Western powers. Beijing’s commitment to fostering partnerships that benefit both sides reflects a broader strategy of building long-term, sustainable relationships based on respect, equality, and shared goals.

As 2024 FOCAC unfolds, it will be clear that the China-Africa relationship is poised to reach new heights, setting the stage for a future of strategic cooperation and mutual prosperity.

The Article originally published at CGTN website.

West spreading ‘fake news’ about Hungary – foreign minister

Budapest has not eased the entry procedure for Russian and Belarusian nationals, Peter Szijjarto insists

Several fellow EU member states are spreading falsehoods about Hungary allegedly easing visa rules for Russian and Belarusian citizens, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said.

In July, Hungary significantly expanded its National Card immigration program, which allows its holders to work in the country without any special security clearance. Under the updated rules, the card, which is valid for two years and can be extended for another three, paving the way for permanent residency, covers eight countries, including Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.

The development sparked significant concern among the EU officials and lawmakers. In August, Ylva Johansson, the European commissioner for home affairs, who used to hold a ministerial post in the Swedish government, admonished Budapest for including Russia in the program, calling the country “a security threat.” 

“Giving potential Russian spies and saboteurs easy EU access would undermine the security of us all,” she said, warning that the EU “will act” if Hungary’s easy-access scheme is deemed a risk. Those concerns were also echoed Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze, who recalled that “there was never a Schengen free for Russian diplomats with hostile intentions.”

Read more

EU nation restricts free housing for Ukrainians

Speaking at a press conference in Bucharest on Tuesday, Szijjarto dismissed concerns about the National Card program. “There has been a fake news campaign carried out against Hungary… by the Baltic and Nordic countries. They are lying,” he charged, stressing that Budapest “has absolutely not eased any kind of procedure” allowing non-EU citizens to enter Hungary.

Following the expansion to the card program, 67 members of the EU Parliament sent a letter to the European Commission insisting that “if the Hungarian government refuses to change its policy, the [EU] should question Hungarian presence in the Schengen area.”

Sandor Pinter, Hungary’s minister of the interior, has said that “the National Card will be issued in accordance with the relevant EU framework and with due consideration of the possible security risks involved.”

After the start of the Ukraine conflict, the EU significantly made it much more difficult for Russian nationals to enter the bloc. In September 2022, it suspended a visa facilitation agreement with Moscow, making the application process more expensive, lengthier and subject to increased scrutiny. The EU has also imposed a blanket flight ban on Russian planes in its air space.

Budapest and the EU have long been at odds over their approach to Russia amid the Ukraine conflict. While most EU members have pushed for sending arms to Kiev and exerting economic and diplomatic pressure on Moscow, Hungary – which is heavily dependent on Russian energy – has opposed this policy. In particular, Budapest has described sanctions against Russia as self-defeating, arguing that arms deliveries will only lead to further escalation.

‘Looming threat’ from Russia sparks ‘major rethink’ of EU defense policy – Politico

Moscow has repeatedly stated that it has no plans to attack the countries of the bloc

The European Parliament is set to hold closed-door, high-level discussions on Wednesday in relation to a new report on the competitiveness of the EU defense industry, Politico has reported.

The document, prepared by former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi, reportedly calls on the bloc to rethink its defense policy in light of the Ukraine conflict and the purported threat from Russia.

Draghi prepared the 400-page report at the request of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who said last week that the EU needs a “systemic overhaul” of its defense spending to increase production and reduce its dependence on the US.

“The EU’s defense industrial base is facing structural challenges in terms of capacity, know-how and technological edge. As a result, the EU is not keeping pace with its global competitors,” a draft of the document reads, Politico reported on Monday.

The report also cites “the emergence of new types of hybrid threats” and “a possible shift of geographic focus” by the US as reasons for the EU to take “growing responsibility” for its own security.

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Should the US abandon Europe?

Draghi, who also previously served as the head of the European Central Bank, suggested earlier this year that his report will focus on the possible ways to fill the productivity gap, which has been mostly driven by a lack of investment in innovation.

The EU spends roughly one-third of what the US does on defense in monetary terms, and the bloc’s arms companies depend 80% on international suppliers, largely from across the Atlantic, Draghi wrote.

International think tank, the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), noted last month that the conflict in Ukraine had revealed “the sorry state of European militaries and defense industries.”

Among the recommendations are the introduction of steps to incentivize domestic defense solutions over competitors, and a removal of red tape for weapons manufacturers to access EU funding.

The United States, the founding member of NATO, has played a central role in the bloc’s defense, as most EU nations are NATO members. Since the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict in early 2022, the White House has been sending additional forces to the EU. Some nations, such as the Czech Republic and the Baltic states, have claimed that Russia would attack them if it won in Ukraine.


READ MORE: EU’s tussle with Russia is ‘at behest of US’ – Kremlin

Moscow has repeatedly dismissed the claims. President Vladimir Putin said in June that there is no threat of Russia attacking NATO countries as it has no “imperial ambitions,” and described such allegations as “nonsense.”