An African volunteer carries supplies in Wenchuan, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, after the region was struck by a catastrophic earthquake in May 2008 (XINHUA)

As the People's Republic of China celebrates its 70th birthday on October 1, 2019, its friendship with Africa has also gone through 70 years. China and Africa have supported each other during this time in the struggles against imperialism and colonization and for independence and later in the endeavors to achieve economic development and national rejuvenation. In recent years, with the implementation of the Belt and Road projects in Africa, this enduring partnership has been injected with new vitality and is playing an exemplary role in South-South cooperation and in the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

True friends

Although far apart in distance, China and Africa are closely linked on the basis of traditional friendship and the prospect of a community of shared future. China and most of African nations are developing countries belonging to the third world, and they were subjected to colonialism and aggression by foreign powers in their history. These similarities, along with common political and development needs, are the reasons why China and Africa have supported each other against various challenges in the international arena and constitute the solid foundation for their future cooperation.

The China-Africa friendship has deep roots. It can be traced back to as early as their anti-imperialist and anti-colonial struggles, when the Chinese and African people supported each other for national liberation and independence. In the 1950s and 1960s, in spite of extreme economic difficulties, China was always on the side of the African people in the Suez Canal War against British and French aggression and Algeria's war for liberation against French colonial rule.

Similarly, African people were also sympathetic and supportive of China's fight to safeguard its national sovereignty and unity. In particular, African countries played an important role in China's resumption of its legitimate seat at the United Nations (UN). They made several proposals at the UN General Assembly to restore China's legitimate rights, and finally at the 26th session of the UN General Assembly in October 1971, this was achieved with an overwhelming majority of 78 votes, 26 of which were from African countries.

In recent years, African countries have shown consistent support for China's core interests in issues such as the South China Sea issue, while China has constantly called for world attention with regard to the development of Africa in the G20 and in international arenas in general. The close China-Africa bond is also embodied in the 30-year-long tradition of the first visit of China's foreign minister each year being to African countries.

This friendship is invaluable in that China and Africa support each other at difficult times. As in any relationship, it is easy to share joy, but it takes deep understanding and commitment to overcome difficulties together. The Chinese people will never forget how African countries, though not wealthy, donated relief funds when China was struck by earthquake disasters in Wenchuan, southwest China's Sichuan Province, and Yushu, northwest China's Gansu Province. Among them, Equatorial Guinea, a small country with a population of around 1 million, donated 1 million euros - 1 euro from each of its residents.

Similarly, the African people will not forget how China reacted when African countries were hit by famine and epidemics. For example, when Ebola hit West African countries including Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in March 2014, China's medical teams stationed in the affected areas did not withdraw. Instead, they decided to cooperate with African people in their fight against the disease. At the peak of the epidemic, as many as 700 Chinese experts and medical professionals were working in the affected areas.

Unconditional help

After its founding in 1949, the People's Republic of China did what it could to provide African countries with economic assistance, with no political conditions attached, to support them in developing their national economies and consolidating their political independence. Among the many aid projects, the largest and most influential was the Tanzania-Zambia Railway. After their independence in the first half of the 1960s, Tanzania and landlocked Zambia sought to build a railway that could transport Zambian copper to port for export. The two countries asked for help from the World Bank, UN organizations, the Soviet Union and others, but were turned down because the latter saw no economic return from the project. The Chinese, however, agreed to assist and workers began construction in October 1970. The construction lasted five years and eight months at a cost of $455 million and more than 100 Chinese lives. It marked a milestone in China-Africa friendship.

Another standout feature of China's assistance to Africa in the new era is the landmark African Union (AU) Conference Center located at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is China's second largest aid project in Africa after the Tanzania-Zambia Railway. An initiative of the 2006 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, the project was part of China's effort to support the integration of Africa. Completed in December 2011, the center has improved conditions for the AU to convene meetings and do its work.

Mutually beneficial partnership

The core of China-Africa friendship is win-win cooperation based on equality and mutual benefit. The FOCAC Ministerial Conference, convened every three years, is held alternatively in China and Africa to ensure equality and joint engagement. The fact that China attaches no political conditions to its aid to Africa is an act of respect. In terms of win-win cooperation, the Chinese market is opening up to more and more commodities from African countries; China is helping build infrastructure like roads, bridges and industrial parks to accelerate Africa's industrialization.

From the perspective of the elements of economic development, China and Africa complement each other, which is a solid foundation for cooperation. The African continent is rich in natural and human resources, with a vast market made up of 54 countries and a population of more than 1 billion. It needs funds, technology and experience for development.

After more than 40 years of reform and opening up, China has accumulated rich experience, funds and applicable technologies, which can be used to help Africa. While African countries hope to find the key to development from China's experience, China also has the ability and strong will to offer help and work with African countries to promote South-South partnership based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

Looking into the future, building a China-Africa community of shared future requires further efforts in both political and economic areas. At the political level, China and Africa need to reach more political consensus and strengthen exchanges of experience in governance. It is necessary to better understand each other's political development paths and models, and learn from each other. At the economic level, it is necessary to further strengthen economic cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Compared to direct aid, Africa needs to enhance its ability to develop on its own. Therefore, emphasis should be given to technology transfer, training and job creation in Africa. For infrastructure construction, the sustainability of the projects should be emphasized.

A robust China-Africa community of shared future is possible only when the requirements to realize the African aspiration, which are poverty reduction and development, are addressed.

(The author is a senior researcher with the Charhar Institute and chief researcher with China-Africa Institute)

(Comments to niyanshuo@chinafrica.cn)