President Cyril Ramaphosa received a courtesy call from the People’s Republic of China's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Wang Yi, on the margins of the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting held at the Nasrec Expo Centre, Johannesburg on February 20, 2025.
Image: GCIS
Reflections on China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s 2025 Press Conference.
By Anna Ge
During China's ongoing annual political gathering in Beijing, Foreign Minister Wang Yi described Africa as the "land of hope in the 21st century" at a press conference, bringing a fresh perspective to the global modernisation process. While some Western narratives still focus on "Afro-pessimism," the China-Africa Cooperation Forum (FOCAC) has reaffirmed its commitment to building a new era of “All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future." This deep, transcontinental cooperation is not only reshaping the development trajectories of both regions but also pioneering new pathways for human progress.
Africa’s development potential is surpassing traditional perceptions. With the world’s youngest population—70% under the age of 30—the continent possesses immense demographic dividends to drive modernisation. According to the African Development Bank, Africa’s economy grew by 3.7% in 2024, outpacing the global average, and is expected to reach 4.3% in 2025. This resilience stems from Africa’s breakthroughs in regional integration, exemplified by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) under the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063, signed by 95% of AU member states and covering a population of over 1.3 billion. The rise of digital technology and green economies further accelerates Africa’s industrial transformation.
Africa’s rich natural resources are gaining strategic value in the new energy revolution. The continent holds 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, 40% of global gold reserves, and vast lithium and cobalt deposits. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) supplies over 50% of the cobalt used in electric vehicle batteries, while Nigeria’s solar energy projects are redefining the continent’s energy landscape. Africa’s digital economy, valued at over $115 billion, is facilitating its transition from a "raw material supplier" to an "industrial value-chain participant," restructuring global industry.
In governance, Africa’s collective voice is strengthening. The AU’s unified stance on climate change, as seen in the "African Common Position" in international negotiations, and its Digital Transformation Strategy (2020-2030) demonstrate its growing global influence. The historic hosting of the 2025 G20 Summit in South Africa highlights international recognition of both the continent and the country's role, with it also leading discussions on multilateral financial system reform.
The FOCAC Beijing Summit introduced the "Ten Cooperation Plans," establishing a comprehensive framework for collaboration. By 2023, China’s direct investment in Africa surpassed $40 billion, supporting infrastructure projects including over 10,000 kilometres of railways and nearly 100 ports. These projects have significantly advanced industrialisation across the continent:
These "industrial enclaves" are fostering a local manufacturing ecosystem in Africa.
At the press conference, Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasised that China-Africa cooperation will implement the Ten Partnership Actions for joint modernisation, including:
The list goes on. This transition from traditional aid to "capacity-building cooperation" is fostering a self-reliant African industrial ecosystem and reshaping the logic of South-South cooperation.
The Forum on China–Africa Cooperation is an official forum established in 2000 to strengthen the partnership between China and African nations. It has developed a "dual-track, three-tier" system, incorporating ministerial meetings, senior official dialogues, and diplomatic consultations, ensuring policy coordination, project alignment, and financial support. In 2023, China-Africa trade reached $282.1 billion, marking a 41% increase since 2013. China has remained Africa’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, with South Africa accounting for over $55.6 billion of bilateral trade in 2023.
In the field of global governance, China-Africa relations uphold the "Five No’s" principle: no interference in the development paths of individual countries; no interference in their internal affairs; no imposition of China's will; no attachment of political strings regarding assistance; and no seeking of selfish political gains in investment and financing cooperation. These principles, enshrined in the 2023 White Paper on China-Africa Cooperation, have been integrated into the 2025-2027 FOCAC Beijing Action Plan, setting a new paradigm for global governance.
The concept of "civilisational diversity," jointly advocated by China and Africa, is further dispelling the "modernisation equals Westernisation" myth by promoting cultural diversity. The FOCAC-sponsored Civilization Dialogue & Youth Exchange Fund has so far supported over 3,000 African students in China, with 87% becoming cultural ambassadors upon returning home. Over 200 startup projects have been incubated through the China-Africa Youth Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition. This idea continues to resonate on the global stage, as evidenced by the adoption of the "Promoting Global Development through Civilizational Dialogue" resolution at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in 2024, which was based on a proposal jointly put forward by China and Africa.
In the face of attempts to divide through unilateralism and the internal development imbalances within Africa, China-Africa cooperation’s role as a "stabilising force" has become increasingly prominent. In the fields of digital economy and green transformation, initiatives like the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and the Green Development Partnership Program under the China-Africa cooperation framework are fostering new momentum. Projects such as South Africa’s digital education platform and Ethiopia’s wind power initiative showcase the collaborative innovation capabilities between the two sides in emerging fields.
Beyond economics, China’s contributions to Africa’s public health security during the COVID-19 pandemic—delivering 240 million vaccine doses and establishing the China-Africa Joint Research Center for disease prevention—showcase its commitment to shared resilience. Additionally, through cultural exchange initiatives, Chinese television programs are now broadcast regularly in 53 African countries. African music and dance are frequently featured on Chinese streaming platforms, and the "#ChinaAfricaChallenge" collaboration project between African and Chinese short video creators has garnered over one billion views. Many young Chinese are learning African drumming, incorporating it into their own musical compositions or performances. These "people-to-people projects" are building cross-cultural understanding and mutual recognition.
Wang Yi’s assertion that "There will be no global modernisation without African modernisation" is both a reflection on history and a vision for the future. The China-Africa modernisation drive is not just about economic prosperity; it is a testament to an independent, inclusive, and sustainable development model for the Global South. In an era of uncertainty, the China-Africa partnership offers a rare certainty, lighting the way for humanity’s shared future. As the Belt and Road Initiative aligns with Agenda 2063, and as Eastern wisdom meets African dynamism, the vision of a China-Africa Community with a Shared Future is becoming a reality.
* Anna Ge is a host and commentator for CGTN.
** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.