China has reaffirmed its deepening ties with Africa during a high-level diplomatic gathering in Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, where Foreign Minister Wang Yi held bilateral meetings with counterparts from six African nations. The talks, held on Tuesday, formed part of the ongoing Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), a major diplomatic platform aimed at enhancing long-term cooperation between Beijing and the African continent.
Top diplomats from Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, and Angola were in attendance, engaging with Chinese officials on a range of issues spanning infrastructure development, economic modernization, and international diplomacy. The series of ministerial-level discussions came at a time when China is seeking to reaffirm its strategic partnership with countries in the Global South amid shifting geopolitical alliances and growing global economic uncertainty.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized China’s enduring commitment to Africa, stressing that Beijing remains a reliable partner for development and modernization. “China is willing to continue sharing its development opportunities with African nations and to support them on the path of modernization,” he said during the forum.
Wang added that the dialogue underscored the importance of mutual respect, solidarity, and South-South cooperation. “This ministerial-level dialogue is an expression of our long-standing friendship and our desire to build stronger solidarity with countries in the Global South,” Wang said. “We believe in a fairer global system where all nations, big or small, have equal voices.”
The Changsha meetings come as China continues to position itself as Africa’s leading development partner. Over the last two decades, Chinese financing and expertise have played a pivotal role in the continent’s infrastructural transformation, ranging from highways and rail networks to energy grids and digital systems. Despite criticism from Western nations about China’s economic influence in Africa, many African leaders view Chinese engagement as pragmatic, responsive, and tailored to national development priorities.
One of the highlights of the forum was Wang Yi’s bilateral discussion with Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi. During the meeting, Wang pledged China’s continued support for Kenya’s development ambitions and assured Nairobi of Beijing’s commitment to protecting the interests of developing countries globally.
“China will continue to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing nations and uphold the basic norms that govern international relations,” Wang told Mudavadi, underscoring China’s foreign policy stance in multilateral forums.
In response, Mudavadi welcomed China’s consistent support, noting that Kenya values its strategic partnership with Beijing. He emphasized that Chinese investment in Kenya had been instrumental in reshaping the country’s economic infrastructure. “We appreciate China’s steadfast support in areas such as transport, energy, and digital connectivity. Our collaboration reflects the true spirit of mutual benefit,” Mudavadi stated.
Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, January Makamba, also lauded China’s developmental contributions, highlighting joint projects such as the Bagamoyo port and other regional transport corridors. “We see China not just as a financial partner, but as a long-term friend that understands the complexity of Africa’s developmental journey,” Makamba said during his bilateral exchange.
Senegal’s Foreign Minister, Ismaïla Madior Fall, echoed similar sentiments, noting that cooperation with China had bolstered economic growth and provided alternative pathways to development without imposing political conditions. “Our relationship with China is built on equality, not dominance,” Fall remarked.
Ministers from Botswana, Angola, and Namibia also engaged in private dialogues with Chinese officials, discussing opportunities to expand trade, deepen technological cooperation, and enhance people-to-people exchanges through education and cultural programs.
The choice of Changsha as the host city for this year’s FOCAC ministerial event holds symbolic importance. As a regional hub for China-Africa trade and home to a large number of African business delegations and training programs, Changsha reflects China’s broader strategy of provincial diplomacy—empowering local governments to build ties with Africa independently of central authorities in Beijing.
Observers note that the timing of the meetings is also significant. With a shifting global order and increased competition between major powers in Africa, China is keen to reassert its position as a preferred partner, especially as African nations increasingly diversify their diplomatic engagements.
“China is recalibrating its engagement to not only focus on infrastructure but also on green energy, digital transformation, and vocational training,” said Dr. Mei Zhang, a political analyst at the China-Africa Studies Center. “The Changsha meetings signal a move toward deeper, more diversified cooperation.”
Beijing’s strategic messaging also emphasized that Chinese investment is not a form of neo-colonialism—a critique often levied by some Western analysts—but rather a genuine partnership grounded in respect for sovereignty and mutual gain.
“Unlike others, China does not impose ideological conditions. We listen to what African countries need and support them based on their priorities,” Wang Yi stated.
Despite growing debt concerns linked to large-scale infrastructure projects, African leaders at the forum defended their engagements with China, insisting that the benefits far outweigh the risks, especially when compared to limited alternatives.
“Our focus is on building, not borrowing endlessly,” said Botswana’s foreign minister. “China offers us roads, railways, and reliable electricity—not just empty lectures.”
As the Changsha forum wrapped up, a joint communique was expected to outline priority areas for the next phase of China-Africa cooperation, including climate resilience, youth employment, trade facilitation, and digital innovation.
With diplomatic ties strengthened and new pledges of support on the table, China and Africa appear poised to deepen their already extensive partnership—one that both sides describe as vital for shared prosperity in an increasingly multipolar world.
