South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Benjamin Takpiny
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday pledged 360 billion Yuan ($50.7 billion) of funding to the African continent, and announced elevating ties with all member nations to a “strategic level.”
Xi announced during the 9th Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, 10 partnership actions for modernization to deepen China-Africa cooperation and spearhead the Global South modernization.
“To implement the ten partnership actions, the Chinese government will provide RMB360 billion Yuanof financial support through the next three years. This breaks down into RMB210 billion Yuanof credit line, RMB80 billion Yuanof assistance in various forms, and at least RMB70 billion Yuanof investment in Africa by Chinese companies,” Xi said.
He disclosed that China will encourage and support Africa in issuing panda bonds in China to enhance results-oriented cooperation in all areas.
Xi added that China will provide Africa with RMB 1 billion Yuanin emergency food assistance, build about 6,670 hectares of standardized agriculturee demonstration areas in Africa, and send 500 agricultural experts, and also establish a China-Africa aagricultural sscience and technology innovation alliance.
“We will implement 500 programs in Africa to promote community welfare. We will also encourage two-way investment for new business operations by Chinese and African companies, enable Africa to retain added value, and create at least one million jobs for Africa,” he said.
Xi said that China will implement with Africa more solidly the Future of Africa—Vocational Education Cooperation Plan, establish together an engineering technology academy, and build 10 Luban Workshops.
“We will provide 60,000 training opportunities to Africa, mainly for women and youths. We will launch with Africa a Cultural Silk Road program as well as an initiative of cooperation on innovation in radio, TV and audio and visual programs. The two sides have agreed to designate 2026 as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges,” he noted.
He said that China is ready to build with Africa a partnership for implementing the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and make it a fine example of GSI cooperation.
“We will give Africa RMB1 billion Yuan of grants in military assistance, provide training for 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 police and law enforcement officers from Africa, and invite 500 young African military officers to visit China,” Xi revealed.
He said that the two sides will conduct joint exercises, training and patrol, carry out an “action for a mine-free Africa” and jointly ensure the safety of personnel and projects.
