China launches 9 projects in Africa to solidify relations with continent

China has launched nine major programs in Africa in a bid to solidify its relations with the continent.

Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Zhou Pingjian said the nine projects are anchored on different sectors including Health, agriculture, trade, investment programmes, digital innovation, green energy, capacity building, cultural exchange and peace and security.

The programs were agreed upon following the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Dakar, Senegal from November 29-30.

Speaking during a press conference at Global Trade Centre (GTC) towers, a Sh40 billion FOCAC pioneer project in Nairobi, Pingjian the programs will start with the most pressing need, Covid vaccination.

“In the medical and health program, China will provide one billion doses to Africa. 600 million doses will be through donation while 400 million will be through joint production between Chinese companies and relevant African Counties,” he said.

The ambassador also said they plan to undertake 10 health projects for African countries and 1,500 public health experts to African.

During the ministerial conference, China pledged to provide USD 10 billion of trade finance to support African export, out of which, USD21 million has already been dispatched.

“We hope to reach USD300 billion in imports from Africa to China in the next three years. To achieve that, China plans to increase the scope of products enjoying zero tariffs for least developed countries,” he said.

Pingjian also said the country will encourage companies to participate in the 100 Companies in 1,000 villages in a move to reduce poverty in Africa.

According to the ambassador, FOCAC will foresee the establishment of 10 agricultural projects and also send 500 agricultural experts to Africa.

“FOCAC will develop mechanisms to help finance green lines targeting African agricultural exports and hasten inspection and quarantine procedures,” he said.

CAPACITY BUILDING

The Chinese government has also pledged to come up with capacity building programs including; building or upgrading 10 schools in Africa, encouraging Chinese companies to create at least 800, 000 local jobs, vocational education in China and working with African countries to build ‘Luban Workshops’.

Ngung’u said Kenya is a big beneficiary of support of infrastructure development from China, through projects such as the construction of the Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), the Global Trade Centre (GTC) which is the tallest office tower in East Africa), the Nairobi-JKIA Expressway among others that have revolutionized the city into modernity.

“Kenya believes that growing our trade relations and attracting investments opportunities should remain our key priority and focus, as it will develop our industrial and technological capacity, create jobs and enable us to achieve Africa’s Agenda 2063,” he said.

Under the FOCAC program, has also pledged to encourage Chinese businesses to invest no less than 10 billion US dollars in Africa in the next three years, and establish a platform for China-Africa private investment promotion.

It will also undertake 10 industrialization and employment promotion projects for Africa as well as provide credit facilities of USD10 billion to African financial institutions, supporting the development of African SMEs on a priority basis.

The Dakar summit last week reviewed the achievements made in the development of China-Africa relations and China-Africa solidarity in fighting the pandemic since the Beijing Summit of FOCAC in 2018 and deliberated the implementation of the “eight major initiatives” announced at the Beijing Summit.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference, with the number of outcome documents adopted surpassing all previous conferences.

"It fully reflects the high quality and high level of China-Africa cooperation and demonstrates the two sides’ firm determination to seek common development, meet challenges and share the opportunities jointly in a new era," he said.

Edited by D Tarus