China, Africa and the Shared Pursuit of Modernisation
As China and Africa deepen a partnership rooted in similar historic experiences and mutual respect, a new model of development cooperation is taking shape
By Kirtan Bhana (Article first appeared in ChinAfrica Magazine VOL. 18 – July 2026)
Trucks bound for Africa are loaded onto a China-Africa liner service at Yantai Port in Shandong Province on 9 May (XINHUA)
1 July 2026 – 105th Anniversary of the Communist Party of China – CPC
The book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, now in its fifth volume, is a primary record of one of the most remarkable transformations in human history and a window into the ideas that continue to shape the trajectory of China.
As the world undergoes a historic shift towards greater multipolarity, China stands at the forefront of a new Global South consciousness. Nowhere is this more evident than in its relationship with Africa, a partnership that has evolved from solidarity in anti-colonial struggles into one of the most consequential development partnerships of the 21st century.
At the heart of this relationship lies a simple but powerful principle: collective responsibility and collective ownership create the conditions for collective prosperity and stability.
China’s development journey has demonstrated what can be achieved through long-term planning, policy consistency, social cohesion and a people-centred approach to governance. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, China has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty, built world-class infrastructure, become a leader in advanced manufacturing and technological innovation, and embarked on a path of high-quality development.
The fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China captures many of these experiences and offers valuable insights into how governance can be aligned with national development objectives. While every nation must find its own path to modernisation, the Chinese experience provides important lessons for developing countries seeking to overcome poverty, inequality and underdevelopment.
Lessons for Africa
These lessons have not gone unnoticed in Africa.
Renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs, who was also a special advisor to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, has repeatedly argued that Africa can draw inspiration from China’s four-decade economic rise. Sachs is careful to distinguish between replicating political systems and learning from successful development strategies. His argument is not that Africa should copy China, but that it should draw on the key principles behind China’s success: continental integration, large-scale investment in education, strategic infrastructure development and effective state capacity.
His observations resonate strongly with Africa’s own aspirations, embodied in the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Sachs identifies colonial fragmentation as one of Africa’s greatest developmental challenges. With 55 states, Africa often struggles to achieve the economic scale enjoyed by countries such as China and India. The AfCFTA directly addresses this by creating the world’s largest free trade area by number of participating countries, enabling greater intra-African trade, industrialisation and regional value chains.
In many respects, Africa’s continental integration project mirrors the logic that has underpinned China’s own success: connectivity, cooperation and shared development.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has consistently emphasised these principles in his engagement with Africa. Speaking at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in 2024 in Beijing, he observed that China-Africa relations had reached a new historic peak after seven decades of diplomatic engagement, with achievements across trade, infrastructure, health care, education and people-to-people exchanges forming the cornerstone of a friendship rooted in mutual respect and common aspirations.
In chapter five of the book, President Xi advances a compelling proposition: modernisation is the inalienable right of all nations.
For many developing countries, this message carries particular weight. The historical experience of modernisation under colonialism often generated prosperity for a few while leaving many societies marginalised and dependent. President Xi argues that developing nations, particularly in Africa, now have the opportunity to pursue modernisation on their own terms, correcting historical injustices and building more equitable societies.
The vision China articulates is one of modernisation that is inclusive, balanced and mutually beneficial. Through initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, China promotes a model of cooperation that respects diversity, encourages innovation and advances shared prosperity rather than zero-sum competition.
This approach aligns naturally with Africa’s own development priorities.
The combined population of China and Africa is now approaching 3 billion, representing more than one-third of humanity. The success of this partnership therefore carries implications not only for the two sides but for the future of global development itself.
A local student poses for a photo with the technical manager of Phase I of the University of Kara project in Kara, Togo, on 24 April (XINHUA)
Mutual learning
One of the most significant dimensions of contemporary China-Africa cooperation is the emphasis on mutual learning among civilisations. Too often, development has been framed as a one-way transfer of knowledge from developed to developing countries. The China-Africa relationship challenges this assumption by recognising the value of ancient civilisations, indigenous knowledge systems and diverse cultural experiences.
Mutual learning acknowledges that development is not simply about economic growth. It is also about governance, social cohesion, cultural confidence and the ability of societies to apply inherited wisdom to contemporary challenges.
Trade remains a critical pillar of this relationship. Historical records show that exchanges between Africa and China predate the modern era by centuries. Today, those exchanges are being revitalised on an unprecedented scale. China’s recent implementation of tariff-free treatment for imports from many African countries is a concrete demonstration of its commitment to supporting African industrialisation and export growth.
Equally important are investments in infrastructure, logistics and connectivity. Railways, ports, energy projects, industrial parks and digital networks are helping to unlock economic opportunities and integrate markets across the continent, corresponding closely with Sachs’ argument that long-term infrastructure investment is essential for economic transformation.
Health care co-operation, agricultural modernisation, skills development, technology transfer and peace and security initiatives further strengthen the foundations of this partnership, together contributing to a development model that places people at the centre.
The convergence between President Xi’s vision and Africa’s Agenda 2063 is becoming increasingly evident. Both emphasise development, connectivity, modernisation, poverty reduction and shared prosperity; both recognise that genuine sovereignty requires economic transformation; both view cooperation rather than confrontation as the path towards a more balanced international order.
As FOCAC continues to evolve, it is serving not only as a platform for economic cooperation, but also as a forum for governance dialogue, policy exchange and mutual learning, which may prove to be one of its most enduring contributions.
Africa does not seek to become China, nor should it. The continent’s strength lies in its own history, cultures and aspirations. Yet there is much to learn from China’s experience of strategic planning, infrastructure-led growth, educational investment and national cohesion.
The lesson emerging from both China’s development experience and Africa’s integration agenda is clear: when nations embrace collective responsibility, collective ownership and shared purpose, they create the foundations for collective prosperity.
In a century increasingly defined by South-South cooperation, the China-Africa partnership offers a compelling example of how modernisation can be pursued through solidarity, mutual respect and a shared commitment to building a better future for all.
*The author is director of The Diplomatic Society. The article reflects the authors’ opinions and not necessarily the views of BRJN.
Source: The Diplomatic Society