The People’s Republic of China has reaffirmed its commitment to fully implementing all agreements reached with African countries at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, while stressing that Africa remains an equal partner in the strategic relationship rather than a beneficiary of aid.
The assurance was given by Mr. Shuai Guipeng, Deputy Director of the FOCAC Office at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Beijing.
Guipeng said China was determined to ensure that every commitment made under the FOCAC framework is delivered before the next ministerial meeting, underscoring Beijing’s unwavering dedication to strengthening its partnership with African nations.
According to him, China-Africa relations are founded on equality, mutual respect and shared responsibility, rejecting the notion of a donor-recipient arrangement.
“For China-Africa cooperation, both sides are treated on an equal footing. Africa is not merely a recipient of cooperation but a key partner in shaping and implementing development initiatives,” he said.
The Chinese official noted that the implementation of projects and agreements reached at the Beijing Summit was progressing steadily, with both China and African countries actively working together to achieve agreed objectives.
He explained that the scope of China-Africa cooperation has expanded significantly beyond the construction of infrastructure projects to include joint operations, management and long-term sustainability plans.
Guipeng cited the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya as a prime example of this evolving partnership model.
According to him, Chinese partners did not simply build the railway and exit; instead, they established a joint operating company with Kenyan stakeholders to ensure efficient management, continuous operation and lasting economic benefits.
“This demonstrates clearly that Africa is not a passive recipient in our cooperation. Both sides work together to ensure projects continue delivering value long after construction is completed,” he said.
Addressing concerns about the pace of implementation, Guipeng said the challenge was not a lack of commitment but the sheer scale of projects and initiatives scheduled for delivery within a limited period.
“The implementation of FOCAC is progressing smoothly. The real challenge is that there are so many projects and ambitions to accomplish within a short timeframe,” he explained.
Despite the volume of work involved, he expressed confidence that all outcomes of the Beijing Summit would be successfully executed before the next FOCAC ministerial gathering.
Guipeng further revealed that fulfilling FOCAC commitments has become an important component of the Communist Party of China’s internal performance evaluation system, with officials expected to ensure the timely delivery of projects and agreements.
“The implementation of the FOCAC Summit outcomes is a key aspect of our responsibilities. Higher-level party committees closely supervise progress, and once China makes a commitment and reaches an agreement with African countries, implementation follows,” he stated.
On how African nations can maximise the benefits of the partnership, Guipeng reiterated that China views African countries as active contributors to development cooperation rather than aid beneficiaries.
He stressed that sustained collaboration, shared ownership and joint responsibility would remain central to future engagements between China and Africa.
Reassuring African partners and stakeholders, Guipeng pledged that Beijing would continue working closely with governments across the continent to ensure that all commitments under the FOCAC framework are delivered successfully.
“Our friends in the media and across Africa can be confident that the implementation of the FOCAC Beijing Summit outcomes will be completed smoothly and successfully,” he said.
The latest assurance comes as China and African countries intensify efforts to deepen economic cooperation, expand infrastructure development, promote trade and investment, and strengthen strategic partnerships under the FOCAC platform, which remains one of the most significant mechanisms for China-Africa engagement.
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