According to the IMF, one-fifth of Africa’s exports go to China. China has become Africa’s largest trading partner. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has yielded encouraging results. So, where does such a close relationship between China and Africa come from? What role has China played in Africa’s development in recent years?

The close cooperation between China and Africa is not only with infrastructure assistance but also with deeper connectivity. According to the 2024 edition of the Blue Book of the China-Africa Countries Belt and Road Development Report, at present, Chinese enterprises have participated in the construction and renovation of more than 10,000 kilometers of railways, nearly 100,000 kilometers of highways, nearly 1,000 bridges, nearly 100 ports, 66,000 kilometers of power transmission and transformation lines, and 150,000 kilometers of backbone communication networks in African countries. The railways, highways, and ports built with China’s assistance have played a huge role in the formation of Africa’s transportation network.

For instance, on September 4, Tanzania, Zambia, and China signed a preliminary agreement to revitalize the decades-old Tanzania-Zambia Railway, thereby improving the resource-rich East African region’s rail and maritime intermodal network. China signed an agreement that will activate the Tanzania-Zambia railway to help landlocked Zambia–Africa’s second-largest copper producer export copper through Tanzania. The agreement marks the beginning of the largest upgrade of the railway since its construction in the 70s.

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway, which connects Zambia’s mines with Tanzania’s ports on the east coast of Africa, plays a key role in exporting copper. China has also deepened cooperation with Africa on standards and rules, including tariff exemption, mutual recognition, and integrated development of standards in key areas such as agriculture, energy, minerals, transportation, and climate change, as well as intellectual property cooperation.

This cooperation has enabled the economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa to be carried out in depth. China also provides funding, education, medical assistance, scientific and technological cooperation, tourism, and environmental protection to Africa. Therefore, it is not surprising that China and Africa have been able to reach such a deep level of economic and trade cooperation. Africa is the Africa of the world, and its development touches people’s hearts. Let us make progress and develop together.

By Le Tianyu