President Mohamud Arrives in Beijing for China-Africa Cooperation Forum
GOOBJOOG NEWS | BEIJING: Federal Government of Somalia president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Tuesday arrived in Beijing, China for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled to take place between 4th to 6th September.
“Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Beijing on Tuesday to attend the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which is set to begin on Wednesday and run until Friday,” a Chinese government statement reads.
Chinese president Xi Jingping will host African leaders and their spouses to a banquet on the 4th and officially launch the FOCAC on the 5th.
The African leaders are also scheduled to hold several sessions alongside their counterparts and other Chinese officials to discuss about modernization and a shared future between China and Africa.
The ninth gathering is also expected to provide a framework for navigating China’s evolving strategic partnership with the continent in the post-Covid era, and takes place at a time of rising geopolitical tension that will see Beijing prioritise its position in relation to other world powers.
Climate and energy are expected to be among the key topics for negotiation between Chinese and African stakeholders
Discussions will also focus on digital and technology cooperation in a bid to close Africa’s digital divide.
In the past, FOCAC has yielded notable financial commitments for projects spanning infrastructure, agriculture, and manufacturing.
Experts warn, however, that African countries should use the summit to foster cooperation that is both sustainable and mutually beneficial.
China has been intensifying its efforts to strengthen ties with the Global South.
Analysts say it views these relationships not just as economic opportunities but as crucial to its own broader geopolitical goals.
The investments do not always align with the recipient countries’ needs and development priorities, and are associated with high debt burdens.
Analysts suggest African countries need to rethink the future direction of the partnership.
They say, if approached correctly, FOCAC could foster a new era of cooperation that is both sustainable and mutually beneficial.
- Additional reporting by agencies