This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Republic of the Congo. The rock-solid friendship between the two countries is rooted in a high degree of political mutual trust and the firm support for each other. The Republic of the Congo will serve as the African co-chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) from 2024 to 2027, and will host the 10th FOCAC Ministerial Conference in 2027. President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso was in Beijing to attend the 2024 FOCAC Summit held on 4-6 September, and pay a state visit to China. In an interview with Chinese media including ChinAfrica, he shared his views on FOCAC and China-Africa relations. Edited excerpts of his remarks follow:
ChinAfrica: At the opening ceremony of the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced 10 partnership actions for China and Africa to achieve modernisation. How do you view it?
Denis Sassou Nguesso: I believe that President Xi has made a significant contribution to FOCAC with his recent speech. In 10 partnership actions, he has outlined a path forward for the next three years, listing the key actions we should take together.
These 10 partnership actions include a series of measures and steps that should be taken over the next three years to enhance Africa’s position in terms of development and address current shortcomings. The 10 partnership actions would add a new dimension to the China-Africa relationship.
In his speech, President Xi proposed that bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the level of strategic relations. We believe this approach will enable us to support even the weakest countries, helping them to develop and grow, and to work together to drive global progress. This is an important signal for the Global South.
President Xi has mentioned that on the path to modernisation, no one, and no country, should be left behind. What are your expectations for Africa’s modernisation and future development? What qualitative differences do you think exist between the modernisation process of the West and that of developing countries represented by China and Africa?
The modernisation of the West was achieved through the efforts of other peoples in a historical context of domination and exploitation. In the Chinese context, the people themselves have assumed responsibility for their own destiny. They have chosen not to exploit others but to enter into mutually beneficial cooperative relationships with a view to achieve development. It should be noted that these are not relationships of domination of one people by another.
I believe this represents a completely new model of development and modernisation. We can see the extraordinary progress made by the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. China has achieved this spectacular development and modernisation through its own dynamism and cooperative relations with the other countries of the world, without exploiting others. This is a commendable example that should be acknowledged.
In your speech at the opening ceremony of the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit, you stated your commitment to elevating the importance of FOCAC. What is your expectation from FOCAC?
The FOCAC Beijing Action Plan for the next three years has already been released. It is clear that this plan will affect all economic, social and cultural sectors, relations between peoples, sharing of experience, and exchange of students and artists.
In his speech, President Xi said that to implement the 10 partnership actions, the Chinese government will provide up to $50 billion of financial support through the next three years. Africa will also play its part, with plans for increased trade, technology transfers and the development of agriculture, including the trade of agricultural products.
At present, oil is still the pillar industry of the Republic of the Congo, but you once said that “we must forget about oil.” Under your leadership, the Congo has formulated a national development plan for 2022-2026, focusing on the key industries to be developed, such as agriculture, industry, tourism, digital economy and real estate. What is your prediction about the Congo’s future development?
We continue to place a high level of priority on the oil sector. Chinese companies are already active in this sector and are also engaged in oil and gas production. Chinese companies have become major players in this field.
We have provided them with an opportunity. The Congo has enormous potential, with millions of hectares of arable land, less than 10 percent of which is currently exploited. It’s a huge asset in a country that has water everywhere and sunshine all year round. And that’s why, as part of the 2022-2026 plan, we’ve given a pride of place to the agricultural sector in the broadest sense of the term.
We attach importance to six pillars that we have defined in the National Development Plan, with agricultural development at the centre.
Pointe-Noire Port is a deep-water port very suitable for the development of shipping industry. Pointe-Noire’s Special Economic Zone is progressing steadily. What kind of industries can we see in Pointe-Noire in the future?
Our initial focus is on the Pointe-Noire Special Economic Zone. This is followed by the Brazzaville Special Economic Zone. Additionally, there is a special economic zone situated in the centre of the country, Oyo, and another in the north of the country in Ouésso. All of these special economic zones will be built in due course.
We anticipate that the emblematic industry will be establishing a presence in Pointe-Noire in the near future, with a view to manufacture solar panels.
How do you think these special economic zones can be better connected with the Belt and Road Initiative in the next step?
We can confirm that all of the Belt and Road infrastructure projects that form part of this programme will come to fruition. They will reinforce the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This will facilitate free trade throughout Africa. Furthermore, there will be no impediments to trade between countries or in relations with other countries and the wider world.
The AfCFTA could be implemented in the following areas: infrastructure, transport, telecommunications and electricity. It is estimated that 600 million people in Africa currently lack access to electricity. Once these infrastructure projects are complete, the Belt and Road Initiative will have a transformative impact on Africa.
African Times published this article in partnership with ChinAfrica Magazine
