Towards understanding the epochal significance of China-Africa jointly advancing modernization

By Ye Hailin

The collaborative efforts between China and Africa to advance modernization not only represent a historic journey for African nations to achieve economic independence and social progress, but also signify a broader movement among developing countries, including China and African nations, to take control of their own destinies and shape the evolving of global order.

"Africa is a fertile land of hope of the 21^st century. There will be no global modernization without African modernization." "Africa is going through a new awakening, and countries should support Africa in exploring a new development path of self-reliance and self-strengthening." During China’s Two Sessions this year, China-Africa cooperation have drawn great attention from international media, particularly African news outlets. Not only did mainstream medias from South Africa, Nigeria and other African nations provide extensive coverage of China's Two Sessions, but even local African news platforms, which typically focus on regional stories, have shown keen interest in this annual meetings. 

China and Africa are always good friends, good partners and good brothers with a shared future. China will implement the China-Africa 10 Partnership Action Plans with Africa to advance its modernization. This year marks the 25^th anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Over the past 25 years, China has helped Africa build or upgrade nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads and more than 10,000 kilometers of railways. In the past three years alone, Chinese enterprises created more than 1.1 million new jobs in Africa.

Today, China's breakthroughs in new technologies including artificial intelligence, big data, and new energy have sparked widespread attention across African countries. As a Senegalese scholar noted, "In the past, China was our school for achieving independence; in the future, it will be our school for achieving modernization."

Jointly advancing modernization is the common goal for more than 2.8 billion people of China and Africa in response to the transformations reshaping our world, our era, and the course of history. It represents the moral and practical foundation of China-Africa relations amid unprecedented changes unfolding over the past century. It also serves as a central theme of the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era. Reflecting on history, modernization has been an inevitable path for human development, yet it is far from a smooth one. Along this path, humanity has witnessed remarkable technological advancements, far-reaching institutional innovations, and major achievements in development. However, it has also been marred by immeasurable historical injustices. Following World War II, the widespread national liberation movements across African countries marked the continent's first collective awakening, playing a pivotal role in advancing modernization not only in Africa but also across the Global South.

Since its founding, the People's Republic of China has stood closely with African nations, making great contributions to national awakening and political independence across the continent. This enduring partnership has laid a solid foundation for the joint pursuit of modernization between China and Africa. The shared interests, emotional ties, ideological alignment, and values that underpin the joint efforts to build a community with a shared future and promote modernization have been forged through this historical journey. The commitment to jointly advance modernization is a continuation and development of the great cause initiated by the elder generations of leaders from both China and Africa, representing a historical responsibility that both sides are proud to uphold.

In today's world, marked by turbulence and uncertainty, nations of the Global South must unite and collaborate closely to address the myriad of global challenges. In this process, Africa is not a reactive participant, nor the saved one or the forgotten one. Instead, Africa is a proactive bearer of shared historical responsibilities. This is the essence of Africa's new awakening. While the awakening in the 20^th century brought Africa autonomy and self-respect, the new awakening in the 21^st century will bring it freedom and self-strengthening. Consolidating their foundations, cutting through interference and promoting modernization with unwavering commitment reflect the shared aspirations of the African people.

From the broad perspective of human history, the joint efforts of China and Africa to advance modernization represent not only a transformative journey for African nations to achieve economic independence and social progress, but also a pivotal movement for developing countries, including China and African nations, to steer their own destiny and shape the evolving of global order. As nations of the Global South forge ahead in their modernization paths, their collective dynamism will sustainably foster the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, writing an iconic chapter in the annals of our era.

About the author:

Ye Hailin, Executive President of the China-Africa Institute. This article was culled from People’s Daily, March 13, 2025.