BY PROFESSOR SHERIFF GHALI IBRAHIM
The individual level of analysis in the realm of political science creates an imagery of convergence between a leader and style of leadership; impact of leadership and behavioral traits of the leader. Leaders who have made difficult decisions to avert war have clear leadership qualities and there are those who have caused wars and havoc around the world due to their narcissistic behavioral traits on people and on nations around the world.
If the legendary Chairman Mao were alive to witness the Changsha Declaration, he would have nodded his head agreeably and embracingly in recognition of President Xi Jinping’s initiatives and leadership prowess which he has instrumentalized in governing China and his immense contributions to global governance and the pivotal measures he is taking to reshaping history and shifting narratives of the modernization and developmental dreams of Africa.
President xi has inherited the bandwagon of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which he has been able to upgrade, support and implement all pledged-promises he made to Africa. This is besides assistance in the period of difficulty such as in Ebola and the COVID-19 Pandemic.
It is axiomatic that with President Xi, Africa should understand that its modernization dream will be achieved, African governments should step up efforts and contribute immensely to this great gesture initiated by president Xi.President Xi is very much aware that those assigned to follow up actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation are also promising and they will deliver, that is why he sent a congratulatory message to the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Changsha, capital of central China’s Hunan Province.
Xi is also optimistic of making such a dream becomes a reality that is why in his letter, he posited that “FOCAC has effectively advanced the vigorous development of China-Africa cooperation since its establishment 25 years ago, becoming a fine example of solidarity and cooperation of the Global South.”The China-Africa modernization drive is not an imposition, but a mutual effort made by the two sides to make modernization a reality for both China and Africa.
President Xi highlighted that last September, he and African leaders unanimously agreed at the FOCAC Beijing Summit to promote the six-point proposition on the joint endeavor to advance modernization, and to jointly implement the 10 partnership actions for modernization, leading China-Africa relations into a new stage of jointly building an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era.One major area which is germane in China-Africa relations is the extension of the relationship to having full tenets of integration such as removal of trade barriers. China has been encouraging African countries to produce more goods and export to China in an attempt to support African markets.
This dream is also becoming a reality as the two sides are getting more integrated with the message of president Xi when he made it clear that, “China is ready to negotiate and sign the agreement of China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development to implement the zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines for 53 African countries which have diplomatic relations with China.”When tariffs are 100% eliminated, such an engagement is usually called “free trade.”
This, however portends that China and Africa are becoming closer and closer in solidarity, trade, exchanges, mutual learning, development assistance and ultimately in attaining a shared future in their mutual cooperation.It may also interest us to know that beyond the zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines for 53 African countries, President Xi has expressed great optimism in accelerating the implementation of the 10 partnership actions for modernization and in strengthening cooperation in such key areas as green industry, e-commerce and e-payment, science and technology, and artificial intelligence.
Xi promised enhanced cooperation in an area that has been the nightmare of the African people, which is insecurity, especially in the financial sector and the rule of law.It therefore suffices individuals with open-mindedness to discern the unmitigated efforts President Xi is making in accelerating the modernization drive of Africa with a clear vision of advancing African markets by assuaging difficulties in exports and broadening the horizon for Africa to thrive in its international economic relations with China.
This is indeed a pathway to Africa’s modernization and development created by the dream of a shared future in China-Africa cooperation.
Prof Sheriff is the Director, Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research in Nigeria.
