Gyude Moore Reflects on China’s New White Paper and Weighs How African Stakeholders Should Respond

Lack of access to vaccines, repeated failure to honor climate financing agreements have frayed the fabric of global trust. It is not by coincidence that China includes “good faith” as a principle of engagement with Africa.

Flexing: “By the end of 2020, direct investment of Chinese companies in Africa had surpassed $43 billion. China has established over 3,500 companies of various types across the continent. Private companies have gradually become the main investment force in Africa. This is very likely meant also counter the idea that China imports workers: “More than 80% of their employees are locals, and they have directly and indirectly created millions of jobs.”

Hopefully, the African Union responds to this White Paper linking Africa-China cooperation with Agenda 2063. China here commits to assisting Africa’s green transition and that is welcome news, but African countries ought to seek a firm commitment to a just transition.

As Western financing dries up for natural gas, China ought to step up to help fill the gap to balance Africa’s energy mix. African industrialization should be the basis of all partnerships – including the one with China.