The 2024 Summit of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is held in Beijing from September 4th to 6th, 2024. Since the first ministerial meeting of FOCAC took place in Beijing in 2000, the forum has now marked 24 years of progress. This year's summit serves as another grand reunion of the China-Africa family and is one of China's largest diplomatic events in recent years, with the most foreign leaders in attendance.

But how has China and Africa's cooperation evolved over the years, and how has this partnership become a flagship of South-South cooperation? Yangcheng Evening News Political Insights reviewed this journey.

Two foundational documents that cemented the framework

China is the world's largest developing country, and Africa has the largest number of developing countries. Established in 2000, FOCAC has created a closer bond between China and Africa.

The inaugural ministerial meeting of FOCAC took place in Beijing from October 10th to 12th, 2000. Over 80 ministers from China and 44 African countries attended, along with representatives from 17 international and regional organizations, and business figures from both sides. There were two key topics discussed. First, how can a new international political and economic order be promoted in the 21st century? Second, how can we further enhance China-Africa cooperation in trade and economic areas in this new era?

This historic meeting resulted in two landmark documents: the "Beijing Declaration of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation" and the "Program for China-Africa Cooperation in Economic and Social Development". These documents formally established the FOCAC mechanism.

Notably, the "Beijing Declaration" emphasized the creation of a new, long-term, stable, and mutually beneficial partnership within the framework of South-South cooperation. This was the birth of the "new type of China-Africa partnership", which remains a guiding principle today. FOCAC now includes China, 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China, and the African Union Commission.

Three milestones in China-Africa relations

In 2006, the FOCAC Beijing Summit established a "new type of China-Africa strategic partnership". In 2015, the Johannesburg Summit upgraded this to a "comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership". In 2018, the Beijing Summit charted the path toward building an even closer "China-Africa Community with a Shared Future", bringing the relationship to its strongest point in history.

This progression, from a "new type of partnership" to a "new type of strategic partnership", and then to a "comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership", reflects the significant strides China-Africa relations have made since the inaugural forum in 2000.

After 24 years of development, FOCAC has become a well-established mechanism. Each forum concludes with the release of a "Declaration" and an "Action Plan", reaffirming the strategic consensus between China and Africa and outlining cooperation priorities for the next three years.

From infrastructure connectivity to deepened trade and investment ties, from widespread poverty alleviation projects to enhanced technological and cultural exchanges, China-Africa cooperation continues to leave strong and enduring footprints.

As China advances high-quality development and further opens up to the world, and as the African Union prepares to launch the second ten-year implementation plan of its Agenda 2063, the China-Africa partnership is set to deepen. Under the vision of building a closer China-Africa community with a shared future, the story of China-Africa cooperation in this new era will continue.

Source : Lingnan on the Cloud

凝聚“全球南方”集体力量，中非合作如何走出坚实脚印？

9月4日至6日，2024年中非合作论坛峰会在北京举行。自2000年中非合作论坛第一届部长级会议在北京举行以来，这一论坛已走过24载。今年的中非合作论坛，是中非友好大家庭的又一次大团圆，也是中国近年来举办的规模最大、外国领导人出席最多的主场外交。

自首届中非合作论坛以来，中非之间是如何通过各项合作，一步步走出坚实的脚印，成为南南合作的一面旗帜的？羊晚政见进行了梳理。

两份文件见证机制建立

中国是世界上最大的发展中国家。非洲是发展中国家最集中的大陆。成立于2000年的中非合作论坛，将中国与非洲又一次紧密地联系在一起。

2000年10月10日至12日，中非合作论坛第一届部长级会议在北京举行。彼时，中国和44个非洲国家的80余名部长、17个国际和地区组织的代表以及中非企业界人士与会。第一届部长级会议讨论的议题有两个，一是面向21世纪应如何推动建立国际政治经济新秩序；二是如何在新形势下进一步加强中非在经贸领域的合作。

正是这次会议，通过了《中非合作论坛北京宣言》和《中非经济和社会发展合作纲领》两份历史性文件，中非合作论坛机制正式建立。

值得留意的是，《中非合作论坛北京宣言》提到，在南南合作的框架内建立长期稳定、平等互利的新型伙伴关系。“中非新型伙伴关系”由此确立。如今，中非合作论坛成员包括中国、与中国建交的53个非洲国家以及非洲联盟委员会。

中非关系完成三级跨越

2006年中非合作论坛北京峰会确立中非新型战略伙伴关系；2015年中非合作论坛约翰内斯堡峰会确立中非全面战略合作伙伴关系；2018年中非合作论坛北京峰会确定构建更加紧密的中非命运共同体，推动中非关系进入历史最好时期……

不难看出，自2000年10月首届中非合作论坛举办以来，中非关系完成了“新型伙伴关系”“新型战略伙伴关系”“全面战略合作伙伴关系”三级跨越。

历经24年的发展，中非合作论坛的运行臻于完善，每届论坛固定发布“论坛宣言”与“行动计划”，既重新宣示中非战略共识，又会详细制定出未来三年的合作重点与规划。

从设施联通到贸易投资合作不断深化，从减贫惠民合作项目日益广泛再到科技和人文交流合作不断增加，中非合作走下一个个坚实的脚印。

展望未来，中国将继续推进高质量发展和高水平开放，非洲联盟即将启动《2063年议程》第二个十年规划。在携手打造更加紧密的中非命运共同体的背景下，合作走向纵深，新时代中非合作的故事还将继续。

文｜记者 谭铮
译｜赵凡
英文审校｜王枥焓