What Africa should expect from Chinese new President Xi Jinping

Since the leadership transition began in China during the 18^th National congress of the CPC in November 2012 when Xi Jinping was elected heir-in-waiting, until his eventual endorsement on March 14, 2013, analysts predicted that the leadership transition in the most populous nation and the world’s second largest economy will significantly interest the entire globe. Rightly so, Africa is keen to observe and engage with the new Chinese president and expectations are unsurprisingly high.

There is no doubt that president Xi Jinping is Africa’s friend. He is a leader who regards Africa highly and has been instrumental in shaping China’s sociable policies towards Africa during his service in the Communist Party of China. He has consistently supported the improvement of Sino-Africa ties through the FOCAC Summits and has visited Africa severally as Vice-president to negotiate and discuss ways of improving Sino-Africa relations. His endorsement as president offers him an opportunity to implement his valued ideas for China-Africa cooperation and continue from where his predecessor left. He has already expressed his intention to maintain the continuity of China’s favorable policies while adjusting its relations with Africa to achieve further success in our cooperative development.

President Xi Jinping is no stranger to Africa and understands Africa well. He is a pragmatic leader and we expect him to embark on solidifying the gains made and break new grounds in Africa. His ideas on China-Africa cooperation are well known and Africa expects him to expeditiously boost the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership. In his trip to Africa in 2010 as vice-president, Xi Jinping specifically called for concerted efforts to make the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) stronger and more effective. 

He addressed the seminar marking the 10^th anniversary of the establishment of FOCAC in Pretoria, South Africa and asked the parties to be strategic in planning, encouraged practical cooperation and institutionalizing of FOCAC as a major engine to drive common development for China and Africa.

It is not surprising that Xi Jinping has chosen Africa on his first foreign trip as president. It is a vivid demonstration that he attaches great importance to the new type of strategic partnership with Africa and what role Africa plays in China’s foreign policy. This visit is crucial to the continent’s future development. It will promote the friendly relationship that China and Africa have sustained so far and it will offer him an opportunity to announce his specific ideas and policies for Africa in the coming years.

We should therefore expect the new president to strengthen and accelerate the pace of comprehensive cooperation between China and Africa.  He has always called for expansion of China Africa cooperation to new areas and he is determined to lift China-Africa ties to higher levels by boosting political, economic and cultural cooperation as well as coordination on regional security and major global issues. "No matter how situations change, China will attach importance to ties with Africa, remain a reliable friend and faithful partner of African nations,” President Xi said when he met with Dlamini-Zuma at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in February this year. "Africa is a continent of hope," he said, adding that China supports the self-determined development of and the solidarity among African countries as well as their pursuit of progressive paths suitable for their own national conditions.

In the recent report to the 18^th national congress of the Communist party of China (CPC), former president, Hu Jintao outlined China’s diplomatic priorities in the new era that president Xi is expected to implement. The report highlighted China’s commitment to the improvement and the growing solidarity, friendship and cooperation with Africa on the basis of equality and win-win cooperation. Former president Hu Jintao served 20 billion US dollars to African countries meant for the construction of vital infrastructure such as new roads, railways and ports. The loans are also meant for investment in small scale industries and agriculture to enable higher volumes of trade and export. There has been a sustained increase in foreign direct investment from China to Africa in the last few years and this is bound to continue.

China and Africa share many common interests and our friendship and cooperation has created more economic opportunities for Africa. There is a lot to share and many substantial areas of cooperation that can be exploited. President Xi Jinping has pledged to continue to support and improve the mutually beneficial cooperation with Africa and his tenure is expected to yield more benefits to African development.