By Ambassador Hu Changchun

The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully held recently. The plenum adopted the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization which marks a new chapter on a new journey of pushing forward Chinese modernization. The Plenum put forward more than 300 important reform initiatives, making it clear that China will remain committed to the basic state policy of opening to the outside world, promote reform through opening up, and develop new institutions for a higher-standard open economy.  

Chinese modernization, one of the keywords of the plenum, has become a “hot phrase” widely and spiritedly discussed by African friends. How will it influence the world and Africa? What will it bring to China-Africa relations and Africa’s development? I would like to share my views in this regard:

Advancing Chinese Modernization will bring new opportunities to the world for common development and prosperity. As President Xi Jinping pointed out, China’s continuous expansion of opening up has not only developed itself, but also benefited the world. In the first half of 2024, China’s GDP grew by 5%, reaching 61.7 trillion RMB Yuan, making 30 percent contribution to global economic growth. The total import and export volume of goods stood at 21.2 trillion RMB Yuan, with the international market share of exports and imports ranking the world first and second respectively for 15 consecutive years. In 2023, China-Africa trade volume hit a historical peak of 282.1 billion US dollars. China remains as Africa’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years.

It was stated at the plenum that opening up is a defining feature of Chinese modernization. China will steadily expand institutional opening up, optimize the layout for regional opening up, and improve the mechanisms for high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. By leveraging the strengths of its super-sized domestic market, China will enhance its opening up capacity while expanding cooperation with other countries to develop new institutions for a higher-standard open economy. By further deepening reform and pursuing high-standard opening up to galvanize Chinese modernization, China will integrate itself into the global economy more proactively. In this great process, China will provide more market, investment and growth opportunities to all countries, delivering more benefits to the world.

Advancing Chinese Modernization will inject new impetus to the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future. In its relationship with Africa, China has always adhered to the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith. Over the years, China has helped Africa build a large amount of connectivity infrastructure, carried out extensive cooperation with the AU and subregional organizations, and assisted the construction of several signature Pan-African projects, including the AU Conference Center and the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Landmark infrastructure projects such as the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway, and the Lekki Port have boosted the flow of people and goods. Hybrid rice, Qinghao (the herb for extracting the anti-malaria artemisinin) and Juncao (plant for edible mushroom farming), known as “the three Chinese grasses”, have helped many Africans get rid of poverty. On the occassion of China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue in August 2023, President Xi Jinping announced three proposals, namely, the Initiative on Supporting Africa’s Industrialization, the Plan for China Supporting Africa’s Agricultural Modernization and thePlan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development, which help Africa bring its integration and modernization onto a fast track. 

China is pursuing the great rejuvenation of the nation through Chinese modernization. Africa is moving steadily toward the bright prospects envisioned in Agenda 2063. China is willing to work with African countries and the African Union to explore effective paths that are consistent with Africa’s own conditions while maintaining independence to pursue common development and revitalization. Let’s join hands to advance modernization and make concerted efforts to build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

Advancing Chinese Modernization will generate new expectations of stability in a turbulent world. It was stressed in the plenum that Chinese modernization is the modernization of peaceful development. China is dedicated to promoting a community with a shared future for mankind, and will stay committed to the common values of all humanity, pursue the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. China calls for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. To foster a favorable external environment for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization, China will resolutely safeguard its sovereignty, security, and development interests.

When pushing forward modernization, China always seeks innovations in following the path of peaceful development. China advocates the peaceful settlement of international disputes through consultation and dialogue. Last year, China facilitated the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Last month, the Palestinian factions held talks in Beijing and agreed to end division for reconciliation. The African Union has always been playing an important role in mediating hotspot issues in Africa, leading African countries to work unremittingly toward the goal of “Silencing the Guns”, making great contributions to safeguarding a peaceful and secure global environment. China is ready to work with Africa to implement the new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, advocate the resolution of differences and disputes through dialogue and cooperation, facilitate the political settlement of international and regional hotspot issues so as to safeguard world peace and stability.

In the beginning of the coming September, the new FOCAC summit will be held in Beijing. Leaders from China and Africa will gather again and draw up new plans for our future development. It is a substantially important event in China-Africa relationship, as well as a big gathering that both sides are keenly looking forward to. I am confident that China and Africa will carry forward the traditional friendship, enhance solidarity and coordination, and bolster the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future. As we join hands to advance modernization, we will deliver a better future for the Chinese and African people, and set a fine example in the building of a community with a shared future for mankind!

Ambassador Hu Changchun is Head of Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the African Union and Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the UNECA