IN FOCUS
By Keerthana Nambiar

Highlights of President Xi’s speech at the FOCAC

On 29 November, Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the eighth Ministerial Conference of The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) via a video link that commenced in Dakar, Senegal. Agricultural cooperation, investment, trade were the central focus of Xi Jinping’s speech. The eighth edition of the forum is assembled on the theme of “Deepen China-Africa Partnership and Promote Sustainable Development to Build a China-Africa Community with a Shared Future in the New Era.”

President Xi commended on the 65th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and African countries. He said, “China and Africa have forged unbreakable fraternity in our struggle against imperialism and colonialism, and embarked on a distinct path of cooperation in our journey toward development and revitalization. Together, we have written a splendid chapter of mutual assistance amidst complex changes, and set a shining example for building a new type of international relations.”

The significance of FOCAC
FOCAC looks at building close economic relations between China and Africa. China is the biggest source of investment in Africa evolving from $75m in 2003 to $2.7bn in 2019. The financial support provided by the Chinese has proved to be crucial to the African countries in the last two decades. In the 2015 meeting, China committed a $60bn package aid, state-owned investment, and subsidized lending which was revoked again in 2018.

Highlights of President Xi’s speech
Chinese President Xi Jinping in his speech remarked that the Chinese and African sides have jointly prepared the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035. In the three-year plan, Beijing will work with the African countries and will “carry forward the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation from generation to generation.”

First, one billion Covid vaccine delivery. Since the pandemic began, Beijing has supplied 200 million doses to Africa, as there is a growing concern about the new Omicron variant of the COVID-19. In his speech, President Xi announced that 600 million doses would be donated and the rest 400 million doses are provided under the joint Chinese and African companies. China also plans to send 1,500 public health experts and medical personnel and undertake 10 medical and health projects in African countries.

Second, the measures to reduce poverty and agricultural development. President Xi emphasized that China will be initiating 10 poverty reduction and agricultural projects for Africa including sending 500 agricultural experts to Africa. Under the initiative of “100 Companies in 1,000 Villages,” Chinese companies will be launching Corporate Social Responsibility in Africa for poverty reduction and development in the agricultural sector. Xi announced that China will be opening “green lanes” and will bid $300 billion in total imports from Africa in the next coming three years. Along with the Belt and Road Initiative, China will continue supporting African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Third, the Chinese investment program. President Xi says China will encourage businesses up to $10 billion in Africa and plans to establish an arena for promoting China-Africa private investment. The plan includes China undertaking 10 projects based on industrialization and employment, providing credit facilities, establishing cross-border RMB centers, and mainly supporting the African SMEs. China is looking forward to allocating the funds from the IMF’s new allocation of Special Drawing Rights to the African countries.

Fourth, digital innovation and green development. In his speech, Xi Jinping elaborated on the digital economy projects for Africa. This includes 10 projects for Africa, set-up centers for China-Africa cooperation on satellite remote sensing application, joint laboratories, partner institutes, and many more. China will also launch a campaign on the e-commerce platforms to market 100 African stores and 1,000 African products. For the green development program, Xi Jinping claimed that Beijing will be undertaking 10 projects and support the development of the “Great Green Wall.”

Fifth, capacity building, cultural and people-to-people exchanges. China has stepped up to build 10 schools in Africa and 10,000 African professionals and implement “Future Africa- a project for China-Africa cooperation on vocational education.” For boosting job opportunities, China will aid African countries to set up “Luban Workshops” to create around 800,000 local jobs. In the cultural context, President Xi Jinping assured to hold film festivals screening African films in China and vice versa.

Sixth, the peace and security programmes. China has undertaken 10 peace and security projects to support the African countries. Xi Jinping promised to continue delivering military assistance to the African Union and maintaining regional security in the continent. Xi further declared that Chinese-African peacekeeping troops will conduct joint military exercises and on-site training.

Road Ahead
Looking back into the last two sessions, the FOCAC has been one of the most successful strategic partnerships and has developed exponentially. With the new COVID-19 variant countermeasures and post-pandemic recovery in the picture, the FOCAC serves as a promising opportunity. With the existing security issues in the continent, China-Africa cooperation comes up as a positive developmental approach.
On the other hand, this also brings criticism that the Chinese investments in Africa will drown the African countries with unsustainable debt and human rights situations. Given the current scenario of geopolitical competition of power and influence among the US, EU, and China in Africa threatens the sovereignty of the African continent. 

References:
“Full Text: Keynote speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at opening ceremony of 8th FOCAC ministerial conference,” XinhuaNet, 29 November 2021 

IN BRIEF
By Dincy Adlakha and Avishka Ashok

INTERNAL
Henan Province approves system to track journalists and international students
On 29 November 2021, the Guardian reported that the government in China’s Henan province were considering bringing a surveillance system to track journalists and international students along with other suspicious people. The government procurement website published a document with details of assembling a system that can collect individual files of such individuals by accessing various national and local databases. The Chinese tech company Neusoft was given the task of assembling the system in two months for USD 7,82,000. (“Chinese province targets journalists and students in planned surveillance system,” The Guardian, 29 November 20210)

Experts say China capable of dealing with Omicron; New variant causes three cases in Hong Kong
On 29 November, Zhang Wenhong, the leader of an expert team from Shanghai for the clinical treatment of COVID-19, said that the new COVID-19 variant Omicron will not give China much trouble. He said: "China's current strategies of rapid response and dynamically zeroing cases will be able to cope with various types of variants of the novel coronavirus.” He also explained that countries are tightly building up immune barriers by vaccination which will help in breaking the chain. Currently, there are three Omicron variant infections in Hong Kong. Authorities say they have the situation in control and no local in-bound cases are traced. The three infections do not affect the plan of re-opening of borders between Hong Kong and the mainland. (“Expert: China capable of dealing with new variant,” People’s Daily, 29 November 2021; “Omicron causes 3 infections in HK, but may not affect border resumption as city prevents local community spread,” Global Times, 29 November 2021)

Chinese factory output improves marginally in November
On 30 November, the National Bureau of Statistics reported that the Purchasing Manager’s Index had risen to 50.1 in the month of November from 49.2 in October. The statistics show that the factory activity in China has improved for the first time in three months. The reduction in prices of raw materials and lower restrictions on power usage has enabled the manufacturing sector to improve its output. Although, the Chinese economy is one of the few economies that have rebounded faster than others after the pandemic, it is expected to suffer a slowdown in the fourth quarter as well. (“China November factory activity unexpectedly grows as supply snags ease,” The Asahi Shimbun, 30 November 2021)

Draft amendment to China’s Teachers Law undergoes public consultation
On 29 November, China’s Ministry of Education issued a notice that declared the draft amendment in China’s Teachers Law under public consultation. The amendment will establish an award mechanism for teachers who make significant contributions to education. The amendment also edits the rights and duties of teachers and also makes changes to the qualification required for various levels of teaching. This public consultation is open till 20 December. (“Draft amendment to China's Teachers Law to regulate rights, obligations and competency undergoes public consultation,” Global Times, 30 November 2021)

INTERNATIONAL
Foreign Ministry disregards US Summit for Democracy 
On 29 November, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin addressed a press briefing and responded to a question regarding the criticism surrounding the “Summit for Democracy.” Wang warned against another era of cold war and said: “The United States' hosting of the "Summit for Democracy" is a dangerous move to rekindle the Cold-War mentality, to which the international community should be on high alert.” He said that the US was creating groups in the international system by choosing which country was democratic and which is not based on its on likes and dislikes. (“U.S. "Summit for Democracy" dangerous move to rekindle Cold-War mentality: FM spokesperson,” Global Times, 30 November 2021)

Foreign Minister urges DRC to work towards relieving Chinese nations held in captivity 
On 29 November, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi addressed the sideline meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and admonished the Democratic Republic of Congo to release Chinese nationals at the earliest and actively pursue the safety and security of the Chinese people in the country to ensure stability in the bilateral relations. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DRC responded to the statement by Wang Yi and said that the country sincerely understands China’s concerns regarding the safety of its nationals and would provocatively work towards investigating the involved personnel and quickly release the Chinese people as well. (“Congo to severely punish culprits and secure the release of Chinese in captivity ASAP: deputy PM,” Global Times, 30 November 2021)

Xi-Putin congratulate 3rd China-Russia Energy Business Forum
On 29 November, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin sent congratulatory letters to the third China-Russia Energy Business Forum. The two presidents highlighted the energy cooperation between China and Russia which has grown even further in the past few years. They noted the importance of the steady and stable operation of pipelines between the two countries. President Xi Jinping also wrote that China is looking forward to cooperating with Russia on energy security and climate change. President Putin also hoped to explore new cooperation in the fields of energy informatization and green energy. (“Xi, Putin send congratulatory letters to 3rd China-Russia Energy Business Forum,” Xinhua Net, 29 November 2021)