Jiang Zemin Created the Africa-China Relationship As We Know It Today

File image of Chinese President Jiang Zemin walking to the podium to officially open the inaugural Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on 10 October 2000 in Beijing's Great Hall of the People. AFP PHOTO/Stephen SHAVER

Reflections on the legacy of Jiang Zemin, China’s president from 1993 to 2003, who passed away on Wednesday, emphasized how he presided over a decade of explosive economic growth. Fewer have pointed out that he was also a key architect of China’s current relationship with Africa. 

After the Mao era, emblematized by Chinese involvement in African anti-colonial struggles, the relationship went dormant as China focused on building economic ties with Western economic powers. When Jiang came to power in the wake of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, China was looking for new allies and markets. 

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Cobus van Staden

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
4 Trump’s Contradictory Iran Strategy Leaves U.S. Weaker After War’s End, Says Chinese Commentator
5
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
6
Thailand in Last-Minute U.S. Talks as 36% Tariff Looms

You Might Like

China’s New FM Greeted as Old Friend in Ethiopia on First Stop of Africa Tour

Qin Gang landed in Addis Ababa early Tuesday morning to kick off his first tour of Africa as China’s new Foreign Minister. Qin spent the morning with his Ethiopian counterpart Demeke Mekonnen at the ...

Qin Gang Kicks Off African Tour with AU Commission Strategic Dialogue

“Africa should be a big stage for the international cooperation, not an arena for major countries competition.” This was the message from Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, speaking during a press conference with ...

Tshisekedi’s Trip to China Was a Total Waste of Time and It’s His Fault

Two somewhat perplexing stories today in the China-Africa space. First, the visit to China by President Félix Tshisekedi is wrapping up in Hong Kong and it appears, at least based on what we ...

Africa’s Dangerous Ignorance of China

Last week’s news was dominated by the publication, on Sunday, November 6, 2022, of part of the Kenyan SGR contract. It was far from the entire contract promised by the new ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP