The Beijing Summit and Ninth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held in Beijing from September 4 to 6, 2024. The Heads of State, Government and delegation of China and 53 African countries and Chairperson of the African Union Commission (hereinafter referred to as “the two sides”) and their ministers of foreign affairs and of economic cooperation attended the summit and ministerial conference respectively. The two sides speak highly of FOCAC’s achievements over the past 24 years. It has kept pace with the prevailing trend of peace, development and win-win cooperation, overcome challenges posed by the changing and turbulent international environment, sluggish global economic recovery and the COVID pandemic, and promoted the comprehensive and in-depth development of friendship and cooperation between China and Africa. It has become an efficient platform for South-South cooperation and a shining example of catalyzing international cooperation with Africa.
The two sides are satisfied with the comprehensive and effective implementation of the Nine Programs, Dakar Action Plan (2022-2024), China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035, and Declaration on China-Africa Cooperation on Combating Climate Change put forward at the eighth FOCAC Ministerial Conference and their follow-up actions. The two sides welcome the success of the China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue held in South Africa and the launch of the Initiative on Supporting Africa’s Industrialization, the Plan for China Supporting Africa’s Agricultural Modernization, and the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development, and will work together to implement these initiatives and plans for common development and prosperity.
As regard to Accelerating Agricultural Modernization in Africa, the two sides agree that agricultural modernization is one of the tools that can assist African countries to pursue independent and sustainable development. The two sides will work together to implement the important consensus reached at the high-level meeting themed “Industrialization, agricultural modernization and green development—the path to modernization.” Africa commends China’s release of the Plan for China Supporting Africa’s Agricultural Modernization at the 2023 China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue and notes with appreciation the joint efforts by China and the AU to compile the China-Africa Cooperation Planning and Action Plan for Agricultural Modernization. The two sides will also conduct joint research on agricultural technologies adapted to local African conditions. China will support its enterprises to participate in localized production of fertilizers, pesticides and small agricultural machinery and tools in Africa in a market-oriented manner, to help Africa achieve import substitution, raise agricultural productivity, reduce agricultural production costs, and extend agricultural industrial chains. The two sides will encourage their enterprises to jointly explore the development of eco-friendly agriculture, animal husbandry and tourism industries, build and run a number of agro-eco-tourism parks, extend industrial chains and increase added value. China will build satellite remote sensing centers, earth science laboratories and meteorological stations in Africa, and strengthen scientific and technological cooperation with Africa in such fields as sustainable agricultural development, water-saving irrigation, food loss reduction, support for agricultural adaptation to climate change, and prevention and reduction of natural disasters. The two sides will jointly promote trade in agricultural products, promote entrepreneurship and employment in the agricultural sector, and expand the market for African cash crop products through information and digital cooperation, particularly through e-commerce, personnel training and sharing of experiences.
Besides, China will step up support for mechanization of agriculture in Africa by means of aid, lease, cooperative management and joint venture assembly to raise Africa’s agricultural production efficiency.The Chinese side plans to build the China-Africa centre for tropical agricultural science and technology (joint laboratory) with African countries, and consider promoting the new varieties and technologies related to cassava. The Chinese side also plans to build the partnership with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on improving the value chains of the rice, transforming the sustainable crop system and the health of soil. The Chinese side will support the implementation of organic and ecological agriculture in Africa through various sustainable initiatives aimed at combating food and nutritional insecurity, climate change, soil fertility management and poverty reduction.
