Interview: Sino-Africa ties blossom under FOCAC: analysts

The ongoing Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in South Africa deepens the ties between the Asian nation and African countries, which have blossomed from political and cultural links decades ago to vibrant trade, economic and technological exchanges, Kenyan analysts said Friday.

FOCAC, now in its 15th year, involves Sino-Africa economics, trade, infrastructure, financial cooperation, health and food security, and offers a platform for the two sides to engage in a relatively friendly and meaningful manner.

"The initiative that brings China and Africa together to participate in discussions on socio-economic and political agenda resonates well with Africa in its broad development agenda and has considerably upstaged the Western countries in dealing with Africa," said Dr. Gerishon Ikiara, a lecturer of international economics at the University of Nairobi.

According to Ikiara, China has dealt with African countries in a "friendlier manner without discrimination based on a country's political or economic policies or conditions".

Therefore, he argued that Sino-Africa relations are experiencing the highest levels of cohesion and success in all fronts.

Denise Kodhe, Director General of Kenya-based think tank, Institute for Democracy & Leadership in Africa (IDEA), noted that FOCAC is an international partnership with great potentials and opportunities for Africa's growth and development.

"African leaders should take advantage of such partnerships for their own good and utilize them for the benefit of their people. They should not just attend such important forums for the sake of it, but should go prepared with clear agendas and focus," he said.

This year's FOCAC Summit is taking place in Johannesburg, the first such summit held on African continent. The choice of the venue is an indication of the importance of economic and political roles in the Sino-Africa relationship both within and outside FOCAC, according to Kenyan political analyst Stephen Ndegwa.

"The holding of the summit on African soil shows the growing importance of Africa to China's economic and geo-political agenda. It is a mark of confidence in the relationship so far," said Ndegwa.

At the opening of the summit on Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced new measures to be taken in the next phase of FOCAC.

They include new proposals in modernization of agricultural production and food security, strengthening and fast-tracking of Africa's industrialization programs and supporting key social programs, especially in capacity building in Africa's health care provision and disease prevention systems.

China also announced on Friday 60 billion U.S. dollars in grant and concessional loans to ensure smooth implementation of these proposals.

Ikiara said these new measures are welcome as the majority of African governments are struggling with mounting healthcare, education, housing, poverty and food insecurity.

"China recently came face to face with health care challenges when it strongly intervened in fighting the outbreak of Ebola in a number of countries in West Africa. The intervention earned China wide international respect from Africa and beyond," he said.

He said the rapid growth of Sino-Africa cooperation in the last two decades is destined to higher levels in the coming years.

"Effective involvement of Africa in the design and implementation of FOCAC Plans of Action has strengthened ownership of the joint cooperation framework and created a sense of mutual respect among the Sino-Africa partners," observed Ikiara, adding that he is upbeat on a brighter prospect of Sino-African relations. Enditem