Editor's note: Hisham AbuBakr Metwally is the First Economist Researcher at the Central Department for Export & Import Policy under the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Industry. The article reflects the author's opinion, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.?
Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet African leaders in September in Beijing during the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit. The summit will take Sino-Africa ties to a new stage, which is based on mutual respect, equal-footed, and win-win scenario.??
The cooperation between China and Africa is not only confined by trade, it also aims at improving local people’s living standard.
China addressed various topics, including climate change where the country committed to build 100 clean energy projects. China started to build the industrial capacity with its African partners through building economic, industrial and trade zones in Africa.?
Each African country should react positively to these zones as it will give more incentive and provide better investment climate to attract more industries. Of course, peace and security are mandatory.
China has launched a China-Africa joint research and exchange program to promote science and technology. It has embedded 100 joint projects on scientific and technological research.?
The Chinese government also has impressive scholarship programs that has allowed around 5,500 of African students to study in China per year by 2012, train 15,000 African professionals in 3 years, build 50 schools and train 1,500 school principals and teachers.?
With all these efforts alone the situation will not notably change, the African governments should assign the adequate budget for research and education.
China also focused on the health sector by building 30 hospitals and provided 46 million US dollars (around 300 million RMB) of grants to build 30 malaria prevention and treatment centers.?
Furthermore, China will train 20,000 professionals in various fields, supply medical equipment and anti-malaria materials worth 73 million US dollars (roughly 500 million RMB) to hospitals. However shortage of local doctors has caused issues, some cases China provided the hospital with the equipment but couldn't find enough local staff for operation.
The agriculture cooperation has witnessed a lot of successful projects in different countries like Uganda, Mozambique, Zambia, Angola, Ghana, Nigeria and many other countries. But still, the mega projects have not started yet. A lot of technical problems and security situation preclude certain investments.?
China sent 100 senior agricultural experts to Africa for training and experience transfer, about 2,000 agricultural technology personnel have benefited.
Some notable successful projects are already underway. In July 2016 China and Nigeria agreed to build a 1,400km 11.17 billion US dollars worth of coastal railway, from the west to Caliber to the east.?
Kenya had its largest infrastructural project 472km,? 3.2 billion US dollars worth of railway from Mombasa port to capital Nairobi. This Line will be a part of the East African rail network that connects landlocked Ethiopia, South Sudan, the DRC, Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda to the Indian Ocean.?
Ethiopia is building a 756km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway, which is worth 4 billion US dollars. It aims to connect the country's capital to the port in neighboring Djibouti on the Red Sea.
After the completion of all mega infrastructure projects and industrial zones, the continent will change completely. It will become a real estate area to attract investment, and will provide employment opportunities for the people of the continent. We still have much to achieve together. China and Africa together have one future to achieve prosperity and development for all.
China has not cooperated with the African continent solely because of its own interest. The relationship is comprehensive and has achieved the interests of all and prosperity for all. I strongly note the success of the FOCAC Mechanism in achieving an unprecedented qualitative leap in Sino-African relations and most importantly it is continuous, extended, deep-rooted and always from one success to another.
I have a strong confidence that the FOCAC Summit in Beijing in September is the inauguration of modern Africa era, hand in hand with China.
Hisham AbuBakr Metwally
