Exclusive丨Grobler: Global South will flourish as China-Africa co-operation thrives

2024-09-06 18:02:30 source: ZICC

The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is being held from Sept 4 to 6. On the theme of "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future," Chinese and African leaders gather in Beijing to discuss future development and cooperation and exchange governance experience. Gert Grobler, former veteran diplomat of South Africa and honorary professor of the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, shares with ZICC reporters his anticipations toward future China-Africa cooperation.


“When China-Africa cooperation thrives, Global South cooperation will also flourish,” said Grobler in the interview, adding that China-Africa partnership is a mutually beneficial endeavor with huge potential for future growth and there is no doubt that it will continue to evolve into a model of success for expanding Global South cooperation.


Grobler looked back at the 24-year history of the FOCAC and noted that FOCAC remains the flagship collaborative platform between the China and Africa and has continued to deliver wide ranging tangible economic and social results.


“We believe that through this summit, China and Africa will enhance their long-standing friendship and deepen unity and collaboration to open up new vistas for faster common development and start a new chapter for a China-Africa community with a shared future,” he said.


The three-day 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, starting from Sept 4, marks another grand reunion of the China-Africa family following the 2006 Beijing Summit, the 2015 Johannesburg Summit and the 2018 Beijing Summit of the forum.


Over the 24 years since the establishment of the FOCAC, the forum has become a "golden brand" of China-Africa cooperation. Under the framework of the forum, China has proposed a series of cooperation initiatives and projects to assist Africa's development.


Grobler said that he is expecting China and Africa to discuss the continued implementation and strengthening of previous as well as new projects aimed at future cooperation in key areas such as economic market integration, industrialization, trade promotion, green energy, agricultural modernization and job creation.


“The essence of Africa-China cooperation is mutual benefit and common development. Africa-China cooperation has never been and will never be a mere talk shop,” he said.


Trade volume between Africa and China jumped to a record $282 billion in 2023 and continues to grow, as a result of China’s recent push to boost imports from Africa, with an 11 percent year-on-year growth, according to official data released by Ministry of Commerce. 


“As a developing country, China is naturally an emerging political and economic force in the Global South. China has consistently stood in solidarity with fellow developing countries, through thick and thin, and continues to safeguard the shared interests of developing countries,” said Grobler.


Grobler delivered a speech at the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University.


During his time in Zhejiang, Grobler was invited to attend over 40 conferences and gave speeches. He published over 80 commentary articles and interviews in both English and Afrikaans across international and Chinese media, promoting the China-Africa cooperation.


On Sept 2, Grobler received a reply letter from President Xi Jinping, handed over by Li Zhigang, Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, according to the embassy’s official account. In the letter, Xi encouraged scholars from 50 African countries, represented by Grobler, to continue contributing wisdom for building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future and safeguarding the common interests of the Global South.


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The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is being held from Sept 4 to 6. On the theme of "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future," Chinese and African leaders gather in Beijing to discuss future development and cooperation and exchange governance experience. Gert Grobler, former veteran diplomat of South Africa and honorary professor of the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, shares with ZICC reporters his anticipations toward future China-Africa cooperation.


“When China-Africa cooperation thrives, Global South cooperation will also flourish,” said Grobler in the interview, adding that China-Africa partnership is a mutually beneficial endeavor with huge potential for future growth and there is no doubt that it will continue to evolve into a model of success for expanding Global South cooperation.


Grobler looked back at the 24-year history of the FOCAC and noted that FOCAC remains the flagship collaborative platform between the China and Africa and has continued to deliver wide ranging tangible economic and social results.


“We believe that through this summit, China and Africa will enhance their long-standing friendship and deepen unity and collaboration to open up new vistas for faster common development and start a new chapter for a China-Africa community with a shared future,” he said.


The three-day 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, starting from Sept 4, marks another grand reunion of the China-Africa family following the 2006 Beijing Summit, the 2015 Johannesburg Summit and the 2018 Beijing Summit of the forum.


Over the 24 years since the establishment of the FOCAC, the forum has become a "golden brand" of China-Africa cooperation. Under the framework of the forum, China has proposed a series of cooperation initiatives and projects to assist Africa's development.


Grobler said that he is expecting China and Africa to discuss the continued implementation and strengthening of previous as well as new projects aimed at future cooperation in key areas such as economic market integration, industrialization, trade promotion, green energy, agricultural modernization and job creation.


“The essence of Africa-China cooperation is mutual benefit and common development. Africa-China cooperation has never been and will never be a mere talk shop,” he said.


Trade volume between Africa and China jumped to a record $282 billion in 2023 and continues to grow, as a result of China’s recent push to boost imports from Africa, with an 11 percent year-on-year growth, according to official data released by Ministry of Commerce. 


“As a developing country, China is naturally an emerging political and economic force in the Global South. China has consistently stood in solidarity with fellow developing countries, through thick and thin, and continues to safeguard the shared interests of developing countries,” said Grobler.


Grobler delivered a speech at the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University.


During his time in Zhejiang, Grobler was invited to attend over 40 conferences and gave speeches. He published over 80 commentary articles and interviews in both English and Afrikaans across international and Chinese media, promoting the China-Africa cooperation.


On Sept 2, Grobler received a reply letter from President Xi Jinping, handed over by Li Zhigang, Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, according to the embassy’s official account. In the letter, Xi encouraged scholars from 50 African countries, represented by Grobler, to continue contributing wisdom for building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future and safeguarding the common interests of the Global South.


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