“China is Africa’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years”

Over the past 24 years, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has played a pivotal role in advancing Sino-African relations across a wide range of sectors, according to Chinese Ambassador Zhu Liying. Speaking at the pre-FOCAC conference in Mauritius, the Ambassador highlighted the transformative impact of FOCAC, which has facilitated substantial progress in infrastructure, industrialization, agriculture, finance, commerce, health, education, culture, science, technology, and aeronautics. In the first quarter of this year alone, the trade volume between China and Africa reached USD 70.6 billion, a remarkable 95% increase compared to the same period last year, he noted. Emphasizing the critical role of the upcoming FOCAC summit in advancing both bilateral and multilateral cooperation, Zhu Liying highlighted the strengthening ties between China and Mauritius, and stressed the latter’s strategic importance in Sino-African relations, especially in the areas of finance, trade, and investment.

At the pre-FOCAC (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation) forum held on August 29 at Hennessy Park Hotel, Zhu Liying, the Ambassador of China to Mauritius, underscored the deepening ties between China and Mauritius, emphasizing the importance of the upcoming FOCAC summit in enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation. “It is a great honour and pleasure to welcome you to this meeting as we approach FOCAC,” the Ambassador stated, highlighting the diverse representation in the Mauritian delegation, which includes government officials and representatives from both the public and private sectors.  

He expressed his sincere appreciation to the Mauritian government, the press, and all participants for their continued interest and support in fostering China-Mauritius relations, and participation in FOCAC. “This event, which will bring together Chinese and African leaders, represents a crucial platform for strengthening historical ties and deepening pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa, and more specifically between China and Mauritius,” he noted. “Together, we will build a better common future.”

The Ambassador emphasized Mauritius’ active participation in FOCAC, noting its commitment to sustainable development and social progress. “Mauritius and China exemplify principles of equality, respect, mutual support, and shared benefits in international relations,” he stated. He highlighted the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between China and Mauritius, the first and only FTA at the African level, which has significantly boosted economic and commercial cooperation. “For two consecutive years, our bilateral trade volume has exceeded USD 1 billion, with cross-border yuan settlements reaching over 20 billion yuan last year, an 18% annual increase,” he noted. 

Zhu Liying highlighted Mauritius’ strategic role as a hub for finance, trade, and investment between China and the African continent. “Cooperation in innovative sectors, particularly finance and renewable energy, will undoubtedly become a key focus for Mauritius and China during and after this FOCAC Summit,” he asserted, while also recognizing ongoing collaborations in traditional sectors like infrastructure, education, culture, health, and technological innovation.

The Ambassador emphasized China’s readiness to work with Africa to achieve modernization through efficient and independent pathways, tailored to their specific conditions. “Our goal is to build a community of shared future through common development,” he stated, adding that “China advocates for an inclusive and beneficial economic globalization, and a fair and regulated multipolar world.” 

Cooperation in innovative sectors, finance, and renewable energy will become a key focus for Mauritius and China during and after the FOCAC Summit

Highlighting China’s commitment to global peace and development, he noted that “the recent reconciliation initiatives by China, such as the agreements between Palestinian factions and the historic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, demonstrate China’s constructive role in promoting world peace and development.”

The Ambassador expressed confidence in the success of Mauritius’ participation in FOCAC, which aligns with China’s high-level openness, modernization, and win-win cooperation strategy. “Based on our sincere friendship and the richness and diversity of our achievements, Sino-Mauritian cooperation will see even more promising prospects through the new impetus provided by FOCAC,” he concluded.

Zhu Liying provided a retrospective on the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which, since its establishment in 2000, has been a faithful witness and significant actor in fostering China-Africa cooperation. “Over the past 24 years, FOCAC has enabled significant progress in diverse fields such as infrastructure, industrialization, agriculture, finance, commerce, health, education, culture, science, technology, and even aeronautics,” he highlighted. “More than 10,000 km of railways, 100,000 km of roads, nearly 10,000 bridges, and close to 100 ports have been constructed through Sino-African cooperation, creating over 4.5 million jobs across Africa.”

He further elaborated on the advancements in digital infrastructure, noting that “the main optical fibre networks in Africa have expanded to over 150,000 km, providing internet access to more than 700 million African users.” Since FOCAC’s inception, total Chinese investments in Africa have surpassed USD 40 billion. “China has maintained its position as Africa’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, with bilateral trade reaching a record high of USD 282.1 billion last year,” he stated. “In the first quarter of this year alone, the trade volume reached USD 70.6 billion, a 95% increase compared to the same period last year.”

Ambassador Zhu Liying also highlighted new trends in trade between China and Africa, citing a surge in African imports of Chinese electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products, which have increased by 291%, 109%, and 57%, respectively. “Africa is already on the fast track to catching up with renewable energies,” he remarked. 

He also referenced President Xi Jinping’s announcement of three major initiatives at the recent China-Africa Summit in Johannesburg: industrialization, agricultural modernization, and talent development. “These projects are paving the way for Africa to embark on a rapid path of modernization and regional integration,” he affirmed.