UN chief hails China-Africa partnership as a catalyst for development

Speaking at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit held from September 4 to 6 in Beijing, Guterres underscored the vital role of this collaboration in fostering South-South cooperation.

“The joint efforts between China and Africa can create a new momentum for African development,” Guterres stated, as reported by the UN’s media service.

He emphasized the longstanding trade ties between China and Africa, noting that China stands as Africa’s largest and oldest trading partner.

He also praised China’s “remarkable record in development,” particularly in poverty eradication, which, he said, offers a wealth of expertise and skills that can benefit Africa.

Guterres highlighted the potential of the China-Africa partnership to spearhead a renewable energy revolution and drive transformative changes in food systems and digital connectivity across the continent.

“This partnership can lead the renewable energy revolution and serve as a catalyst for major transformations in food systems and digital connectivity,” he noted.

On the sidelines of the FOCAC summit, Guterres held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they discussed a range of mutual concerns, including the upcoming Future Summit scheduled for September 22-23 at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Guterres expressed the UN’s readiness to strengthen its cooperation with China on various global issues.

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, established in October 2000 in Beijing, is the oldest regional forum of its kind in China.

Its significance was further cemented in 2006 when China announced the creation of the China-Africa Development Fund, initially valued at five billion dollars.

The 2024 forum agenda includes high-level discussions on state governance, industrialization, agricultural modernization, peace and security, and quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Guterres’s endorsement of the China-Africa partnership highlights the potential for this collaboration to bring substantial benefits to the continent, aligning with broader goals of sustainable development and global cooperation.