ANBOUND Strategic Research Report: Opportunities and Challenges in China-Africa Cooperation and Related Policy Recommendations

From September 4 to 6, 2024, the 9th Ministerial Conference of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held in Beijing. Heads of state, government leaders, heads of delegations from China and 53 African countries, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, as well as foreign ministers and ministers responsible for economic cooperation attended the summit and ministerial meetings. The conference ultimately adopted the 2025-2027 Action Plan, with the Chinese government and the governments of participating African countries agreeing to comprehensively strengthen cooperation in various fields, including international affairs, regional security, economic matters, and digitalization.

It is foreseeable that following this year's FOCAC, China's investments in Africa, economic and trade cooperation, and cultural exchanges will enter a new stage of development, with a new wave of Chinese companies expanding into the continent.

However, after years of development, Africa's overall situation is increasingly seeing the acceleration of internal risk factors and the deepening competition among major powers. While Africa can certainly provide China with ample development opportunities, it will also present many risks and challenges for the further development of China-Africa relations and cooperation.

A comprehensive analysis of the characteristics and development trends of opportunities and challenges is essential to effectively safeguard and deepen China's interests in Africa and enhance China's influence in African affairs.