Charting a new vision for China-Africa pact via Dar es Salaam Consensus

At present, the Global South is rising collectively, cooperation among developing countries is in full swing, and the global governance system is facing fundamental changes. Promoting the development of the world system in a reasonable and fair direction and deepening dialogue, exchanges and cooperation among southern countries are the general trend of changes in international power and the common aspirations of China and Africa. The Dar es Salaam Consensus continues the traditional friendship between China and Africa, brings together the intellectual voices of Chinese and African scholars, and outlines a new vision and blueprint for future cooperation between China and Africa.

I. Continuing the traditional friendship between China and AfricaThe friendship between China and Africa has a long history and the foundation of China-Africa cooperation is solid. No matter how the international situation changes, the friendship between China and Africa has always been sincere, friendly and reciprocitarian. The common historical destiny and consistent ideals and beliefs in the early days led to the revolutionary friendship between China and Africa.

The solid friendship between the older generation of leaders of China and Africa still shines brightly in the long river of time. From the early days when China and Africa fought side by side against imperialism and colonialism, and jointly fought for national liberation and national independence, to joining forces with the forces of the third world, discussing the path of developing countries to independently explore modernization, and jointly seeking national rejuvenation and international cooperation, to jointly building the “Belt and Road” and jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind, China and Africa have always helped each other and worked together for more than 70 years.

The consensus has a historical significance that connects the past and the future. It is not only a milestone in the continued development and deepening of

China-Africa relations, but also a product of China-Africa cooperation that continues to reach a new level, and a new chapter in the continued strengthening of China-Africa friendship.

Today, China-Africa political mutual trust continues to deepen, China-Africa economic and trade exchanges increase year by year, and China-Africa cultural exchanges continue to strengthen. The consensus was born against the backdrop of the continued deepening and solidification of China-Africa practical cooperation.

It is a convergence of ideas that have made China-Africa friendship stronger over time, a joint declaration that China and Africa will work together to meet current common challenges, and the best testimony to China and Africa’s unity in seeking peace and development.II. Converging the common vision between China and Africa. At present, the international governance system urgently needs to be reformed in a more just and reasonable direction.

The Global South is the backbone of the reform of the international governance system. For African countries, development still takes the top priority.

How to promote independent development, strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation with other countries, and promote sustainable development and green transformation are the common tasks currently faced by African countries.

The development and stability of both China and Africa are related to the growth and stability of the Global South, the peace and development of the international community, and the common destiny of all mankind.

The consensus contains the vision of China and Africa to promote common development and prosperity, the common pursuit of building an equal and orderly world multipolarization, and the common expectation of building an international community of lasting peace and universal security.

The consensus calls for giving priority to development, exploring an independent, self-reliant, mutually respectful and people-oriented development path, calling for the principle of consultation, joint construction and sharing to promote global governance in a more just and reasonable direction, calling for building an inclusive economic globalization and sharing the dividends of development, calling for balancing traditional and non-traditional security and shaping a safe development

environment.

Each of these points embodies the common voice and wisdom of scholars from think tanks on both sides of China and Africa on promoting common and sustainable development and promoting the construction of a more just and reasonable global governance system.

China is determined to safeguard world peace and stability, firmly promote the deepening and substantive development of China-Africa cooperation with African countries, and insists on jointly promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind with African countries.III.Planing jointly for the future development blueprint

Those who do not plan for the overall situation are hardly to manage for an aspect; those who have no long-term consideration are hardly to organize the present. The consensus outlines a new blueprint for the future development of China and Africa and a new prospect for China-Africa cooperation.

The consensus emphasizes that we support all countries in exploring a modernization model based on their own civilizational characteristics and development needs, and strengthening dialogue among civilizations; accelerating the democratization of international relations, and effectively enhancing the representation and voice of developing countries in the international system; supporting African countries and other countries to give full play to their comparative advantages in accordance with local conditions, continuously improve the level of industrialization and agricultural modernization, and better participate in the international division of labor; connecting international initiatives with national plans, promoting inclusive development, and promoting social harmony and common prosperity; actively promoting the reform of the international financial system and bridging the development deficit; combining effective markets with effective governments to activate endogenous development momentum; taking into account traditional security and non-traditional security, and creating a safe development environment; fully respecting the historical, cultural, national and social conditions of various countries, strengthening exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and promoting knowledge sharing among countries for development.

Each consensus outlines a specific blueprint for China and Africa to jointly build a world of common development, common prosperity, openness, inclusiveness, cleanliness and beauty, and clarifies the direction and goals of China and Africa’s joint efforts, providing new ideas and solutions for both sides to work together to solve global challenges.

China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future, and are also fellow travelers in promoting the common progress of human society. It is also a model of South-South cooperation and international cooperation with Africa.

In the future, China-Africa cooperation will be further upgraded and contribute more to the joint construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Ms. Sun is Assistant Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies of Zhejiang Normal University, China

Source: China Africa Economy