African heads of state have begun arriving in Beijing ahead of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, which begins on Wednesday. The ninth gathering aims to navigate China’s evolving strategic partnership with Africa in the post-Covid era amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Key topics for discussion will include climate, energy, and digital cooperation, with a focus on closing Africa’s digital divide. In the past, FOCAC has resulted in significant financial commitments for infrastructure, agriculture, and manufacturing projects across Africa.
Experts caution that African nations should aim for sustainable and mutually beneficial cooperation. While China has intensified efforts to strengthen ties with the Global South, some investments have led to high debt burdens and may not align with the recipient countries’ development priorities. Analysts suggest the summit presents an opportunity to rethink and redefine this partnership.
The summit will run from September 4-6.
