The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will open in Beijing over Sept. 3-6, on the theme, “Joining Hands To Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.” FOCAC is a major part of the effort by the BRICS nations and the Global Majority to construct a new world development order, based on real production, industrialization, and infrastructure.
China’s Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong reported on Aug. 23 that it would be the “largest diplomatic event China has hosted in recent years”; the heads of many African states, the African Union Commission, and African regional organizations will attend. On Sept. 5, President Xi Jinping will attend the FOCAC’s formal Opening Ceremony, and deliver the keynote. In addition to Africa’s industrialization, increasing African exports to China will be a major feature. FOCAC has met every three years since its founding in 2000.
On August 29, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian identified three core items of the agenda: “Realizing modernization is the common pursuit of China and African countries. China firmly supports Africa in exploring the path of independent development and focuses on the three areas where modernization is most needed. We launched the Initiative on Supporting Africa’s Industrialization, and implemented the Plan for China Supporting Africa’s Agricultural Modernization, and the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development under the framework of FOCAC to support Africa’s development and prosperity with concrete steps.”
