The Sino-African Voices is a series of Q&A on broader issues regarding Africa-China economic, social and political cooperation.
Jinkang WU shared broader perspectives and key insights on geopolitics, China’s domestic economy, and, more specifically, Africa-China cooperation in this episode of Sino-African Voices.
The newly appointed Foreign Minister of China, Qin Gang, visited five African countries (Ethiopia, Gabon, Angola, Benin, and Egypt) on his first international trip, shortly after his appointment on January 1, 2023. In his meeting with the AU Secretary General, FM Qin Gang made the 4-point proposal on the development of Africa-China relations.
Q: What are the specific cross-border opportunities that Africa can leverage for mutually beneficial results for both Africa and China?
On the macro-strategic level, both sides could further enhance their policy dialogues and exchanges to formulate a road map, both short and long-term, for economic development cooperation. That road map should be as specific as possible, covering economic development strategy, free trade agreement, foreign direct investment to promote industrial development, particularly the manufacturing sector, agricultural development to ensure food security for the African continent, as well as infrastructure, etc.
On specific sectors, efforts should be made to promote “Made in Africa”, particularly for products both for local and external consumers, ranging from textiles to agriculture to manufacturing, and to extend the industrial and value-chains in Africa.
On specific actions to be taken, more efforts should be made to promote FDI, with a strategic approach to enhancing engagement with the Chinese private sector investors, and creating an enabling environment for the Chinese private firms which are willing to move their production capacity to the African continent in a bid to seek more market opportunities.
On country-level cooperation, a country-specific engagement approach is critical to maximizing the comparative advantage of individual countries, giving full play to the complementary role of economic development in boosting win-win cooperation between the two sides.
To facilitate actions as needed to promote cooperation opportunities, the enhancement of communications and personal exchanges is extremely important. As mentioned above, sending trade and investment promotion delegations to and attending business conferences and exhibition fairs in China, or inviting Chinese business people, particularly private investors to Africa, is an important step to start with. Quick follow-ups are also critical as a Chinese saying goes: Strike the hammer while the iron is hot. The food market disturbance didn’t come alone: oil, gas, iron, and the auto parts industry were also impacted, increasing the fuel price, which also has a direct impact on supply chain mobility and cost.
Q: China is the first country to support the AU in joining the G20, and supports a greater role of the AU and African countries in the global governance system. How significant is this gesture in boosting Africa-China cooperation geopolitically?
For AU to join G20, it would not only enable African countries to play a bigger role in the international arena but would also help raise the economic position of the African continent.
An economically stronger Africa would certainly help augment both the scope and level of cooperation between Africa and China. Once the African countries as a whole have reached the economic level of upper middle income countries, the trade volume between the two sides would be increased beyond our imagination.
Multi-polarization is a global trend no force can prevent it from happening.
The developing world is traditionally composed of countries from Asia (a large part of it), Africa and Latin America, and the rising of Africa would help strengthen the position of the developing south, and the world would become more balanced both in terms of geopolitical pattern and economic development, and therefore a more secured and safer place for mankind.
Q: China holds a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Will China lead the quest of the AU to get an African country a permanent Seat on the UN Security Council? “to boost the representation and voice of developing countries, especially those of African countries, in the UN Security Council and other international organizations, as it seeks to work together to make the global governance system more just and equitable.
Without knowing the detailed discussions, if any, between AU and China on the subject matter, I could not make any judgment on or prediction for the actions that China may take when this issue is put on the table of the UN Security Council.
That said, we have indeed noted the four-point proposal FM Qin Gang made during his recent visit to Africa. FM Qin Gang reaffirmed that China “supports a greater role for the AU and African countries in the global governance system.”
He added that “We should boost the representation and voice of developing countries, especially those of African countries, in the UN Security Council and other international organizations, and work together to make the global governance system more just and equitable.” This is true, in my view, a very strong statement indicating China’s political stance concerning this issue.
The newly appointed Foreign Minister of China, Qin Gang, visited five African countries (Ethiopia, Gabon, Angola, Benin, and Egypt) on his first international trip, shortly after his appointment on January 1, 2023. In his meeting with the AU Secretary General, FM Qin Gang made the 4-point proposal on the development of Africa-China relations.
Q: Why should the world be bothered by these statistics?
The world should not be bothered by these statistics. Let’s put it in perspective.
First, one should not neglect the fact that China’s total population still stands at 1.4118 billion in 2022, almost the same size as the total population of the African continent.
Secondly, the latest statistics show that China’s working-age population, aged between 16 and 59 years old, was as large as 860 million in 2022, accounting for about 61 percent of the nation’s total population, which is still “young and vibrant” with an average age of about 39.
Thirdly, apart from the size of the total population, the quality of China’s labor force has been on a steady rise. At present, there are about 240 million people with a university education in China, more than 44 million are currently studying at universities, and about 9 million college students graduate from their schools each year (as is the case in 2021).
Finally, China has taken steps to relax its family planning policy, with a view to maintaining an appropriate balance of its demographic structure. This move might help to address the aging issue and the population decline in China, although the result of the relaxation has yet to be seen. In conclusion, the forecasted decline in China’s population growth will be compensated by the quality improvement of its labor force, which would lead to a significant increase in the country’s productivity, with the development of artificial intelligence and production automation.
Q: Is this an opportune time for China to consider a Canada Style Migration program, especially for skilled Africans and their families to work in China?
At present and for a foreseeable future, China will continue to face employment pressure other than lack of labour force, and therefore, in my view the “Canada Style Migration program” does not work for China. But this does not mean that China will close its door for talented people, business personals, college students and so on, including those from the African continent, to work and study in China.
It should be emphasized that the country circumstances of China are entirely different from that of Canada, with the latter being a nation made of migrants in its short history.
Q: How will this Impact China’s label as the worlds manufacturing powerhouse?
Given the reasons indicated above in the answer, this will not cause any significant impact on China’s manufacturing capability.
China’s manufacturing industry is moving towards the high-tech end, which demands more on the quality, rather than quantity, of labour force. With the advancement of high technology in the manufacturing sector, China will need more skilled workers and talented engineers. The development of high education and college-level vocational schools will be the main driver of meeting the future demand on labour force.
Expert: Jinkang WU is A member of the Advisory Panel of the Africa-China Centre for Policy & Advisory.
