China has urged developed nations to support Africa in achieving self-reliance, emphasizing that the continent’s progress is crucial to global modernization. Speaking on Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi underscored the importance of Africa’s stability and development, highlighting China’s commitment to strengthening its ties with African nations.
“There will be no global modernization without African modernization,” Wang Yi stated, reaffirming China’s dedication to supporting Africa’s growth through infrastructure, trade, and investment.
His remarks come at a time when Africa is facing significant challenges, including conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan, alongside geopolitical tensions between Rwanda and the DRC. The situation has been further complicated by the withdrawal of U.S. aid under the previous Trump administration, which left several African nations struggling with economic uncertainties.
China, through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), has maintained strong diplomatic and economic ties with Africa for over 60 years. In the past 25 years, China has played a key role in Africa’s development, constructing over 100,000 kilometers of roads and 10,000 kilometers of railways. Chinese enterprises have also created more than 1.1 million jobs in Africa over the last three years, cementing China’s position as Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years.
Wang Yi cited examples of tangible benefits from China-Africa relations, such as the introduction of hybrid rice technology that has helped combat hunger in Africa. He referenced a Gambian farmer who sent a bag of rice to China’s Hunan Province in honor of Yuan Longping, the pioneer of hybrid rice.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative has further expanded its footprint in Africa, facilitating crucial infrastructure projects such as the Tanzania-Zambia Railway. Wang Yi reiterated that China’s investments in Africa are driven by mutual benefit and a long-term vision for the continent’s self-sufficiency.
As China strengthens its ties with Africa, Wang Yi called on other global powers to recognize Africa’s potential and contribute to its sustainable development. “History will prove that a real winner is the one that keeps in the interests of all,” he concluded.
