To truly unlock Africa’s potential, China must expand cooperation

Despite the geographical distance between China and Africa, the friendship between the two has a deep and enduring history. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, China has extended broad support to African countries. The Tanzania-Zambia Railway, built in the early 1970s, stands out as a significant example of this early cooperation – a project in which my father proudly participated.

Over the years, collaboration between China and Africa has transitioned beyond infrastructure to supporting African countries working to reach their national development goals. The focus has expanded to sustainable, high-quality development, including green programmes.

Since 2021, China has participated in more than 120 climate projects in Africa. Also, to ensure the continued implementation of these programmes, as of the end of 2019, China had deployed peacekeeping forces or observers to at least four African regions, reflecting a commitment to the continent’s stability and growth.