China-Africa Relations Enter a New Era of Strategic Partnership and Modernization Cooperation
As China and Africa mark a decade since the elevation of their strategic partnership at the 2015 Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the bilateral relationship has entered a new phase characterized by deepened collaboration, shared modernization goals, and increasingly institutionalized cooperation frameworks.
On December 4, 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the transformation of the China-Africa strategic partnership into a comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership. That proposal laid the foundation for a new model of South-South cooperation—one focused not only on infrastructure and trade, but also on long-term development, modernization, and a shared future.
This year’s commemoration of the 10th anniversary of that call comes on the heels of the 2024 FOCAC Summit held in Beijing, where President Xi outlined a renewed vision for the future of China-Africa relations. Speaking at the summit, Xi advocated for the creation of an “all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era,” and proposed elevating bilateral ties with all African nations that maintain diplomatic relations with China to the level of strategic partnerships.
A Vision for Joint Modernization
At the heart of China’s renewed engagement with Africa is a vision of joint modernization and sustainable development. To operationalize this vision, President Xi proposed 10 priority partnership actions for the next three years. These include:
- Mutual learning among civilizations
- Trade expansion and prosperity
- Industrial chain cooperation
- Infrastructure connectivity
- Development cooperation
- Public health collaboration
- Agriculture and rural livelihoods
- People-to-people and cultural exchanges
- Green development initiatives
- Joint efforts in maintaining security and stability
These initiatives reflect a deliberate shift toward comprehensive engagement, extending China-Africa cooperation beyond physical infrastructure to include softer dimensions such as education, technology, culture, and environmental stewardship.
Transformative Achievements over Two Decades
Since the inception of FOCAC 25 years ago, the China-Africa partnership has delivered tangible results across multiple sectors. China has helped construct over 100,000 kilometers of roads, 10,000 kilometers of railways, nearly 1,000 bridges, and close to 100 ports across the African continent. These projects have played a critical role in improving intra-African trade and enhancing regional integration, in alignment with the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Trade and investment flows have also expanded. China has become Africa’s largest trading partner, and bilateral trade reached over $280 billion in 2024. More significantly, China’s decision to grant zero-tariff access to 100 percent of goods from all African countries with diplomatic ties has opened new pathways for African exports and economic diversification.
As of December 1, 2024, 33 least developed African countries have benefited from China’s zero-tariff policy. In June 2025, this preferential treatment was extended to all 53 African nations maintaining diplomatic relations with China. Industry observers believe this policy shift will encourage more African countries to engage in value-added manufacturing, reduce dependency on raw commodity exports, and integrate more deeply into global supply chains.
Dennis Munene Mwaniki, Executive Director of the China-Africa Center at Kenya’s Africa Policy Institute, remarked that these trade policies “will significantly benefit Africa’s least developed countries, offering them greater access to China’s market and boosting their economies. This, in turn, will help reduce poverty and accelerate economic diversification.”
Cooperation in Human Development and Sustainability
Beyond economic ties, China has made significant contributions to human capital development across the continent. Tens of thousands of African students have received scholarships to pursue higher education in China. Additionally, China has sponsored professional training programs, built universities, and promoted digital skills development across key sectors.
Healthcare cooperation has also expanded. In response to public health needs, China has constructed hospitals, dispatched medical teams, and supplied vaccines and essential medicines. These initiatives became particularly prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to support Africa’s broader health infrastructure.
Environmental cooperation is emerging as another area of strategic interest. China has pledged increased support for green energy, climate adaptation, and reforestation efforts, aligning with Africa’s growing need for climate resilience and sustainable development solutions.
Toward a New Chapter
As the global geopolitical landscape evolves, China and Africa continue to emphasize a relationship built on mutual respect, non-interference, and shared development goals. The China-Africa partnership now stands as a central pillar of South-South cooperation and a model of development collaboration free from conditionality.
With the groundwork laid by successive FOCAC summits and sustained high-level engagement, the relationship is poised to deepen further in coming years, particularly in emerging areas such as digital economy, green technology, and food security.
As President Xi emphasized, building an “all-weather” China-Africa community is not merely about economic cooperation, but about constructing a shared future rooted in solidarity, equity, and mutual benefit.
