Experts participating in the 21st China Lecture Seminar Series in Nairobi expressed their belief that the Chinese modernization experience offers important insights for the Global South, particularly concerning Africa’s development goals.
The experts, drawn from various fields and possessing extensive knowledge of Chinese affairs, contend that Africa can draw valuable lessons from China’s experience to achieve essential development.
“China is very different from the West in the sense that China is a gentle giant. It is not coming with weight and that is where as Africa we have space,” said Prof. Peter Kagwanja, the Executive Director of the Africa Policy Institute (API).
In Prof. Kagwanja’s view, Chinese modernization has been remarkably successful, having lifted about 800 million people out of poverty. He also highlighted China’s accomplishments in innovation and the development of cutting-edge technology, which he believes are crucial for Africa to overcome underdevelopment.
Furthermore, he characterized China as non-hegemonic and non-authoritarian in its approach to Africa, as seen through the rhetoric that that shaped the recently concluded Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 2024 Summit in Beijing, which “was about friendship, brotherhood, and family.”
Amb. Erastus Mwencha, former Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), echoed Prof. Kagwanja’s sentiments. He said Africa faces developmental challenges that China previously confronted, and as such, the continent stands to benefit from shared solutions.
“There are lessons to be learned from China. If you look at the model that was deployed by China, there was the development of industries, bringing together the small and medium industries, and focusing on technology,” he said during the seminar co-hosted by the Africa Policy Institute and the Beijing-based China-Africa Institute (CAI).
According to Mwencha, the Belt and Road Initiative, led by China, represents the most promising pathway for Africa to achieve modernization. He outlined the initiative’s successes since its launch in 2013, particularly highlighting the positive impact of the USD 1.1 trillion invested by the first half of 2023 through BRI. He said the funds have not only facilitated various infrastructure projects but also supported trade, social sectors, agriculture, finance, and technology in participating countries.
“For modernization to succeed globally, we need a multilateral system, which is what China is pushing for. It champions equitable, just, and fair modernization that fosters shared prosperity,” he stated.
“The Belt and Road Initiative connects 150 countries and over 40 international organizations. Its aim is clear: to promote win-win cooperation by enhancing policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people relations,” Mwencha explained.
The diplomat expressed his satisfaction that China has opened its universities to African students, with the current enrolment exceeding 500,000. He remarked that this presents an opportunity for Africa to learn about technological advancements, reiterating that technology transfer will aid the continent in modernizing its agriculture, trade, and other sectors to achieve development.
“High-quality development in China refers to development that is sustainable, technologically advanced, and impeccable in all respects,” he stated.
“If we discuss Africa’s transformation and modernization, we should consider projects like the SGR and Expressway, and their impact on Kenya,” added Ambassador Mwencha.
Zhou Yunfan, Vice President of the China Africa Institute at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), noted that China, as the world’s second-largest power, has followed its own path to achieve development and believes Africa can learn from this.
“Over the years, China has been pursuing development suited to its own national conditions and has eliminated the historical problem of absolute poverty and achieved moderate prosperity in all respects. It has embarked on a new journey towards making China a modern socialist economy by the time the People’s Republic celebrates its centenary in 2049,” she explained.
She highlighted the similarities between China and Africa, stating that sharing experiences and aligning aspirations, as reflected in the African Union’s Agenda 2063, can help unlock the continent’s immense potential.
“In pursuing economic development and national rejuvenation, both sides have been supporting and helping each other while increasing the volume of cooperation. A stronger China-Africa community of shared future will advance our cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, taking China-Africa cooperation to a new and unprecedented high,” she asserted.
Meng Jin, Assistant Research Fellow at the China Africa Institute, underscored the importance of Africa modernizing its national governance capacity. She stressed that adhering to a people-centred development philosophy is crucial, pointing out that the path of Chinese modernization is focused on the people.
“Only through development can we guarantee the basic rights of the people. Only through development can we satisfy the people’s fervent aspirations for a better life,” she quoted President Xi Jinping.
“This underscores the need for Africa to adopt a people-driven development approach, harnessing the potential of its people, particularly women and youth, while caring for children,” she elaborated.
In her address, Zhu Li, Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, highlighted the significance of the ten partnership actions proposed by President Xi Jinping during the FOCAC 2024 Summit as essential for realizing the vision of modernization.
The ten partnership actions to be implemented over the next three years focus on areas such as mutual learning among civilizations, trade prosperity, industrial chain cooperation, connectivity, development cooperation, health, agriculture and livelihoods, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, green development, and common security.
“The introduction of the Beijing action plan will undoubtedly lead to mutual success by supporting Kenya’s efforts to develop value chains, promote industrialization, and improve people’s livelihoods, ultimately contributing to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future,” she stated, underscoring the positive impact of FOCAC.
“FOCAC has shown us the potential of what can be achieved through cooperation and mutual respect, so we may go together and flourish together,” Zhu remarked.
Roselyn Njogu, the Principal Secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, praised the impact of BRI investments in Africa, noting that they have resulted in tangible benefits, including accelerated infrastructure development, enhanced trade routes, and significant opportunities for knowledge transfer.
The PS said China’s commitment to high-quality development within the BRI underscores sustainable and long-term capacity building, aligning with Africa’s agenda for sustainable growth and development.
“Skills and knowledge transfer stands at the core of effective development cooperation. As we engage with China under the BRI framework, we must ensure there is a great opportunity for African professionals to benefit from hands-on technological training and skills development. Through these efforts, the transfer of technology and expertise empowers local communities to build institutional capacities and enhance self-sufficiency in critical sectors,” she explained.
“Successful examples of knowledge transfer programmes include the training of African engineers and technicians in Chinese institutions, alongside participation in large-scale BRI projects in Africa. These initiatives promote the exchange of technical expertise, preparing the workforce for future leadership in Africa’s industrial and infrastructure sectors,” she added, noting that the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway project, completed in 2017, has significantly contributed to technological transfer in Kenya.
She affirmed Kenya’s commitment to strengthening its cooperation with China by prioritizing initiatives that emphasize skills and knowledge transfer.
The event, themed “Chinese Modernization and China-Africa High-quality Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative,” was organized by the Africa Policy Institute, a pan-African think tank based in Nairobi, in partnership with the China-Africa Institute and the Chinese Embassy in Kenya.
