China tells 53 African ministers her success secrets

China continues to demonstrate her saying of “teach a man how to fish for himself instead of giving him fish all of the time.” As the biggest developing country and fast-growing economy, China is creating more platforms for other developing countries to catch up with economic transformation and industrialization under its “Belt and Road” Initiative.

Recognizing Africa as one of its largest partners in driving the engine of this initiative, the country is intensifying exchange programs and people-to-people contacts with Africa under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

As part of the experience-sharing, African delegations to the recent FOCAC follow-up meeting in Beijing were, on July 30, taken on a guided tour of the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) in Suzhou City, in China’s eastern province of Jiangsu.

About 300 delegates, including over 100 ministerial officials of 53 FOCAC African mmber countries, representatives from more than 30 member units of the Chinese Follow-up Committee of the FOCAC and African diplomatic envoys to China, attended the meeting.

African ministers at FOCAC (Photo/Ikenna Emewu)

Following the tour, the delegations held meetings with the leadership of Suzhou, where they exchanged ideas with Chinese officials on cooperation between China and Africa in industrial development.

Speaking at the meeting, SIP director Yang Zhiping explained the encouraging level of improvement and how it is helping in China’s opening to the world.

South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkosana-Mashabane, who co-chaired the FOCAC follow-up meeting, also formed part of the Suzhou visit.

Visit to SIP was intended to give an insight to the African ministers to see how China has not only planned, but is implementing what it plans as far as economic development and industrialization are concerned.

A glimpse of modern Suzhou (Photo/Ikenna Emewu)

SIP is a flagship cooperation project between Chinese and Singapore governments. According to SIP authorities, the development and construction of the park has always been a high degree of attention and under the special care of Chinese and Singaporean leaders, thus establishing a three-level leadership and working groups for smooth progress.

For 22 years of the development of the SIP, under the joint efforts of both sides, there have been remarkable achievements in the economic and social development. SIP authorities reported that last year the GDP and revenue from tax exceeded 200 billion yuan and 60 billion yuan respectively. The per capita GDP was about 40,000USD, the production of R&D investment accounted for GDP reached 3.35%, energy consumption per ten thousand yuan GDP amounted to 0.254 tce, and the comprehensive development index, the level of intensive development and indicators of quality and efficiency were among the forefront of its kind in China, known as an important window for opening up and a successful example of international cooperation in China.

All African governments and institutions need to do now is to put in place mechanisms that will bring to reality the 10 action plans advanced by China under FOCAC. African leaders have been urged to apply joint efforts in making the Chinese dream a reality.