Tag: CPC.

The Case for Strong Leadership: China’s Fourth Plenary Session and African Aspirations

Posted on By Nnanda Kizito Sseruwagi

On 23 October 2025, China adopted the Communique of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). This document documents China’s strategic plans for national progress as a significant global actor. During the deliberations, Chinese leader and the CCP General Secretary, Xi Jinping, affirmed the Party’s achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) but also laid out plans for the future, drawing the next course for the 15th Five-Year Plan. The blueprints designed for China’s future are intended to position it as the world’s beacon of resilient modernisation.

I think that, as a continent inheriting multiple retrogressive postcolonial legacies, with backward economies in an increasingly globalised world, and suffering incessant external interferences in its politics, Africa has invaluable lessons to derive from China.

The CCP has a long history of disciplined central leadership with strategic foresight, which has centred the Chinese people in the exercise of public policy. That people-centred governance in China is a lesson that should resonate deeply with our continent’s aspirations for sovereignty, unity, and prosperity.

There are many major lessons we can derive from the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CCCP including: the primacy of unified central leadership in driving national cohesion, the long-term strategic planning as a pillar of sustainable growth, high-quality development over mere quantity: innovation, reform, and balance, People-First Governance and full party self-governance as foundations for legitimacy, and resilience amid global uncertainty: seizing opportunities in risks.

The session saw participants discussing and adopting the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development, while President Xi also explained the draft recommendations.

During the session, the Central Committee appraised the Political Bureau since the last plenary session. Note that China is governed by those bodies, although they are different. The Central Committee is a large body constituting about 350-400 members, while the Politburo is a smaller, more powerful executive committee of 24 top officials elected by the Central Committee. The Central Committee is mandated to meet annually to elect the Politburo and the Politburo Standing Committee, which are the real centres of power in China’s system of governance.

The achievements of the Political Bureau thus far have been notable. It has ably implemented the guiding principles from the Party’s 20th National Congress and the plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee. The bureau has adhered to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability.  It has fully and faithfully applied the new development philosophy on all fronts, implementing the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy in a coordinated way. It was also congratulated for balancing domestic and international imperatives, ensuring both China’s development and security, further deepening reform comprehensively, and delivering tangible results in high-quality development. The committee also found that the bureau had tremendously advanced socialist democracy and rule of law; improved public communication and cultural work; ensured the people’s wellbeing and protected the environment; safeguarded national security and social stability; launched a study campaign for fully implementing the central Party leadership’s eight-point decision on improving work conduct and further strengthening full and rigorous Party self-governance. It has also modernised China’s national defence and the armed forces; pursued major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics; and promoted sustained economic recovery and growth.

The communique unequivocally reaffirms President Xi’s leadership in the CPC, and elevates his Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. The confidence in Xi’s enlightened leadership shows a commitment to political integrity and big-picture thinking, which in some contexts can emerge from a singular leader. This is something we are still shying away from in Africa. We pretend to practice rituals of democracy, even if they sometimes not only fail to work but also produce political violence and instability. This can be seen in the Sahel, where insecurity is now commonplace, and in some parts of East and West Africa, where electoral instability is almost regular. The pursuit of Western democratic rituals has often led to weak central authority in some of these areas, although these failures of democracy are normally explained as a result of a lack of democracy, yet they are results of democracy itself or its pursuit. We need to learn from countries like Rwanda under President Paul Kagame or Ethiopia, which had prosperity-oriented reforms for a long time under singular yet strong and visionary leadership. Sometimes we need to free ourselves from the perpetual partisan gridlock that comes from pretentious democratic practices, which tend to disunite and decelerate our development.

Like President Xi, African leaders should cultivate similar confidence in the strategic paths they chart for their countries, their theories of leadership, and their unique systems and political cultures that fit their contexts.

The writer is a senior research fellow, DWC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CPC’s 4th Plenary Session: Beijing’s 5 Year Plan is an open cheque for Africa-China Diplomactic Priorities

Posted on By Alan Collins Mpewo

As the world boils in never ending conflict, the leadership gap keeps ever expanding, a factor that has caused disruptions. But so have alliances grown. China has remained the course of seeing to it that as the new world order takes shape, the formerly disregarded States get their place on the high table. Its agenda keeps growing and expanding on its intentions in Africa. Ever more mutually beneficial concessions are being executed and this has shaped foreign policies of China and its partner States. At the close of October, 2025, the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held its Fourth Plenary Session presided by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee. In attendance was President Xi Jinping. A communique was issued and among others, looked at recommendations that were made by the Committee, which included formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development. More that was discussed was the balancing of inland domestic outputs vis-a-vis international commitments, development and security, democracy and rule of law. An assessment was also conducted on the successes that were registered for the outgoing Five-Year Plan that is running from 2021 to 2025.

The next phase incoming is the 15th Five-Year Plan that has been based on an intergenerational philosophy. This is posited on an understanding that the economic foundation is strong already, to absorb shocks, just as the 2021 to 2025 Five-Year Plan persevered through the COVID-19 pandemic. The next phase is cognizant of the growing international product competition and fast changing dynamics in technology and industry. It also takes keen understanding of the abundant human resource and wide market. The economy remains central. The pivot. One would think that China being a socialist State would cause hardship in realising stable relationships with capitalist and mixed economies of the Africa continent. It is worth examining because of the ease with which diplomacy has been achieved. It remains certain, however, that it is aware of the looming troubles. The economic war with the West. More shock absorbers and optimism are primary in the extension agenda. The US seems resolute under President Trump to keep pinning China to extents of surrender.

The communique noted an important aspect, a subject for this article – looking beyond its borders and letting entry into new horizons. The international community, and yet still standing by its philosophy of mutual beneficial cooperation. The case of Africa. Multilateral trading has in recent years faced attack from the West who instead of letting in other players on fair terms, seeks control. It remains open that new entrants from the Global South will have relations established on an economic stand, while hopefully, new markets will avail for the old partners with China. Africa has for decades suffered from tight systems of external trade. The wake up call has always been in ensuring industrialisation and manufacturing to trade finished products instead of raw materials, from a question of value addition. Even for China’s imports from Global South countries, the red tape was clear in its outgoing Five-Year Plan. But all hope had not been lost. China has been loosening its grip gradually on its trade restrictions to create a more favourable and fair environment for its partner traders just as it enjoys in the same States. In fact, some critics have always noted the contrary practice from its most sounded agenda of “Win-Win” philosophy.

The Global South might expect some relief because the idea by China is to have a reform on that front. And it is not surprising however, given its growing trade warfare with the West. Allies are necessary. Sanctions have become unpredictable. You cannot know who else joins the band. The Belt and Road Initiative, China’s flagship diplomacy driver, will be strengthened. At least that is expected. In the globalization agenda, it is arguably the greatest achievement of China’s diplomacy with Africa. What is key to note is the extensions that Africa might get out of the next Five-Year Plan. Climate Change has broadened its wings. Food insecurity is on a steady rise in Africa than ever before. There have been breakthroughs in agricultural sustainability globally, and China has risen places on the international scorecard in achieving reasonable sustainability. The disconnect between Rural and Urban Africa has grown greatly as its governments look on. This, besides carbon control and sustainable urban planning, should be a focus for Africa to leverage on the probable reforms that may be expected. China has been a steady preacher of fair share of technology and knowledge against global gatekeepers. Now should be a time to rethink African diplomacy beyond just infrastructure development, the glamor of donated guzzlers, and the constant exclusion of loan repayments. There is a sharp potential of African agriculture that can cure the embarrassing statistics of the African community. The iron is hot for Africa to strike. Reflect on the diplomacy priorities.

 

The writer is a Senior Research Fellow, Development Watch Centre.

Africa Must Reposition as China Recalibrates After The Forth CPC Plenary Session

Posted on By Musiime George

The 20th Central committee of the Communist Party held its forth plenary session between October 20th-24th 2025 during which a new 5-year plan (2026-2031) was adopted. While it might be tempting to dismiss China’s five-year plan as a domestic affair, this plan will among other things provide the scaffolding for China’s foreign policy over the next 5-years. In this five-year plan, the world’s 2nd largest economy outlines its strategy for thriving amidst a perilous international system. The key question therefore is what the evolution in Africa’s biggest trading partner means for the continent’s development ambitions. As China emphasizes deepening reforms, high quality development, refining regional economic layout and coordinated economic development, modernization and self-reliance, Africa must also undertake strategic realignments of its own to deepen cooperation and maintain its development aspirations.

The communique of last week’s 4th plenary session of the central committee doubled down on ensuring development and security, advancing high quality development, and improving science and technology self-reliance. This came against a backdrop of uncertain trade environment and, growing protectionism especially regarding technology products. The ban on exports of AI chips by the United States for example compounds into risks to the country’s technological aspirations. Conversely, linking steering new science and technology, quality production and modern industrial systems with refining regional economic layouts, China aims to build resilience against similar shocks in global supply chains. Furthermore, evidence of past positive initiatives to increase investments in Africa, spur industrialization, and technology transfers between China and Africa show that through proper alignment, Africa can continue to reap strategic benefits from China’s high-quality development.

A potential shift from Large scale infrastructure projects towards digital and green projects financing. Africa has been on the receiving end of billions of dollars in large infrastructure project financing for roads, rail, and hydropower over the past 2 decades yet, a possible shift towards green and digital projects will still not come as a shock for some reason. In 2021 for example, China made a commitment not to invest in new coal projects – mirroring a shift in its global strategy towards green energy sources. Moreover, China’s strategy for Africa is structured in linked phases to support Africa’s modernization path. Following consistent investment in infrastructure through the BRI for instance, President Xi announced; at the Johannesburg BRI conference in 2023, three measures of focus for Africa’s modernization i.e. industrialization, agricultural modernization and talent development. Obviously, these measures could only be layered over previous achievements in addressing bottlenecks in infrastructure. With a fast growing population also comes increased potential for greenhouse emission and other challenges. Thus harnessing this shift could be an opportunity to position the continent for the increasingly green and digital future that is to come.

The emphasis given to self-reliance and high quality development at the last plenary session further underscores China’s view of strategic independence as in an uncertain world, and as a corollary, a stronger global south solidarity. Stronger southern solidarity has for long been a cornerstone of China’s call for multipolar diplomacy and for Africa, this means increased wiggle-room in the continent’s interactions with the international system. Whereas China has accumulated substantial resources to get along in the existing global system, as the leading member of the global south, reasserting its independence against international bullying directly reinforces the position of the region where Africa is a major constituent.

One area that is likely to see the least disruptive changes though  is governance. In many ways, for countries of the global south, China has become a source of policy learning. With special focus given to upholding leadership, putting people first in last week’s session, we’re likely to see further fine-tuning of China’s governance model, long-term. Under continuing China-Africa friendship, cooperation, exchanges and experience sharing will be an opportunity to refine Africa’s own governance in order to stay on track towards the continent’s own development aspirations including agenda 2063. Nevertheless, as we are constantly cautioned, this cannot be treated as an ideological transplant because national realities play a major role in the final outcome. A focus on what is workable and tailoring ideas to national realities must remain at the core of this ideological learning.

The resolutions of the 4th plenary session will without a doubt provide a strategic anchor point for the totality of China-Africa cooperation over the coming five years. Keeping this reality in mind, the task for Africa’s policy makers needs to be on viewing this development pragmatically rather than religiously. Indeed, Africa must step up to the challenge and become a co-architect in building mutually beneficial engagements if the continent is to stay steadfast in pursuing its aspirations. For indigenous inspiration, the continent can look to South Africa’s role in the BRICS partnership. Whereas Africa aspires for a fairer and equitable world, a deficit of African agency, will complicate and stifle the attainment of this aspiration.

As Africa works towards its development goals, China is increasingly becoming a major partner in different ways – from trade and commerce, green innovations, science and technology and governance among others. The reality is, Africa’s and China’s destinies are increasingly becoming meshed together and to the continent,  last week’s resolutions are far from mere domestic reforms. As the continent’s major partner, China’s domestic economic and political evolutions will certainly influence the continent’s development landscape. Now, whether this is in a positive or negative direction will greatly depend on Africa’s ability to align its strategy with evolving trends in its partner’s strategy and, playing an active role in the ensuing engagements.

The writer is a research fellow at the Development Watch Centre.

Lessons from China’s 76 Years of Transformation

Posted on By Nnanda Kizito Sseruwagi

Every 1st of October, China celebrates the National Day, a commemoration of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, when Mao Tse Tung formally proclaimed the founding of that great country. Because of the significance of that day, there is always a week-long celebration, commonly referred to as the Golden Week, typically punctuated by nationwide festivities and concerts.

Now, if some African leaders might read with excitement China’s week-long national celebrations, I should clarify, perhaps to some’s disappointment, that that was not always the case. It is better for poor, developing countries to even suspend independence celebrations in favour of spending on more urgently needed public goods and services. This is what China did in the 1960s when, in September 1960, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council implemented the policy of “practising economy and frugality to build up the country”, and reformed the system of National Day ceremonies by implementing “one small celebration in five years and one big parade in ten years”.

However, frugality is not the only lesson we can learn from China’s last 76 years’ journey. That country’s transformation holds imperative lessons both political and economic, especially for developing countries in Africa.

One of the genius political lessons to draw from China’s experience is the need to maintain stability while implementing rapid economic reforms. Whereas the leaders of China, since the time of Deng Xiaoping up to Jiang Zemin, strongly opposed the Western style of democracy, they managed to skilfully and steadily adjust the country’s political system to stave off the materialisation of socioeconomic chaos, which had dangerously troubled many Third World nations, especially the former communist states. Since political instability is very familiar in some African countries, it is critical that our leaders study China carefully to pick lessons on how Chinese leaders managed to accommodate incremental social changes without disrupting their country.

China has had an impressive run of transformation. When Deng Xiaoping became the paramount leader in 1978, China’s nominal GNP was a paltry US$44 billion, which was at the time just about 70% of that of South Korea.  However, just nineteen years later, by 1997, China’s nominal GNP had grown to $1055 billion, ranking the country as the 7th largest economy in the world. In fact, in the same year, China was the second-largest economy in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

Another lesson is that whereas Chinese leaders were welcoming of political reforms in the last 76 years, they have always been keen to indigenise those reforms. For instance, Jiang Zemin, who was the paramount leader /general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from 1989 to 2002, and president of China from 1993 to 2003, did not reject gradual political reform but strongly argued for a Chinese-style democracy, and solemnly insisted that his country would never copy Western political systems. Now, the disaster in Africa is that our leaders typically pursue the ideals of Western democracy full throttle, often at the cost rather than to the benefit of their nations.

It would not have been possible for China to realise far-reaching economic reforms without profound political reforms. Yet Western elites often argue that China never reformed politically. What this simply means is that it did not mimic Western political systems. African leaders need to gain the confidence to understand that their nations’ political reforms do not necessarily have to tick the boxes that imitate Western systems, something a few leaders like Rwanda’s Paul Kagame have embraced. China is the master of this. Mimicking Western-style governance systems in disparate socio-economic, political and historical contexts often leads to disaster.

To its credit, one of China’s significant reforms dating from the 1980s was what Deng described as “the two separations.” This meant the separation of the government from the enterprise and the Party from the government. The former was intended to provide an institutional base for a market economy to grow, while the latter was aimed at reducing the arbitrary interference by the Party in government affairs so as to establish a more efficient government.

It is inevitable for Africa to admire China’s transformation and study its development process. It is the one country in modern history whose experience is of great significance to developing countries because a lot of our nations have a similar history to China’s. As predominantly agrarian societies in an industrialised world, and seeking great leaps forward, we share similar pursuits to China’s. As late developers, we also largely face similar challenges to those faced by China while it was still catching up.

The writer is a senior research fellow at the Development Watch Centre.

3rd Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC: Announced New Reforms Will Ignite Global Cooperation

Posted on By Allawi Ssemanda

From July 15 to 18, the third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was held successfully in Chinese capital, Beijing. This plenum came at a time when the world is faced with grave and complex challenges such as slow economic recovery, confrontation, power politics by some countries, and block formation. It also came at a time when tens of thousands of people have died in avoidable wars like Israel’s war against Gaza which the UN has described as “terrible” and bringing the strip closure to “human catastrophe.”

The plenum saw discussion of a report on the work of the Political Bureau. President Xi Jinping who is also the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee attended and made some important comments. At the end, the plenum unanimously adopted the Resolution of the Central Committee of the CPC re-affirming on “Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernisation.”

While one may argue that the third plenary session of the CPC Central Committee which is normally held once every five years concerns China alone, if critically analysed, it is of great significance not only to China but entire world. This is because, it is during this time that that the world’s second largest economy – China under the CPC leadership meet to plan and strategise for the country’s short and longterm socio-economic policies. As the second largest economy and Africa’s largest trading partner and financier of the continent’s most infrastructure projects, in all ways, policies made in Beijing also have direct bearing on economic development of the rest of the world.

Indeed, just a day after the commencement of the third Plenary Session of 20th Central Committee of the CPC, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the 16th July 2024 upgraded China’s 2024 economic growth forecast to 5% beating the U.S’ economic growth projection which IMF downgraded from April’s 2.7% to 2.6%. In the same forecast, IMF put 2024 growth forecast for the 20 Europe’s countries that share the euro currency at just 0.9%, while Japan’s outlook was downgraded from 0.9% to 0.7%!

Noting that Chinese economy has been doing well, the IMF attributed China’s continued good economic performance to among others what the IMF called China’s “program of of trading and equipment upgrade.” Announced in March this year, Beijing says the program will boost consumption and investment and growth at the same time.

When analysed, the adopted resolution which was announced in the communique talks about “Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernisation,” it is an open secret that religiously, China has not been selfish in their development plans and they have consistently executed plans and strategies that also look at the well being and development of the rest of the world. A case in point is the Global Development Initiative (GDI) announced by President Xi Jinping in 2021 to accelerate efforts in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of 2030. The GDI suggests ways to address key human challenges.

Also, China introduced the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which several studies have concluded is helping in sparking economic growth in all implementing countries. Indeed, a World Bank study – “How Much Will the Belt and Road Initiative Reduce Trade Costs?” conducted in 191 countries concluded that BRI projects have made trade easier in BRI participating countries by “reducing shipment times and trade costs at country-sector level.” BRI stands as a testament to China’s commitment to enhancing five connectivities or “five C” experts describe as key drivers of economic take off. The “five Cs” are; Policy Connectivity, Trade Connectivity, Infrastructure Connectivity, Financial Connectivity and; People-to-People Connectivity.

Such is enough evidence that while the 3rd Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC primarily benefit, if well implemented such polices by all means have a significant contribution as far as economic development of the rest of the rest of the world is concerned.

Indeed, while describing China’s economic growth projection as positive on the 16th of July, the IMF observed that led by China, “Asia’s emerging market economies remain the main engine for the global economy” stressing that today, China and India  “accounts for almost half of global growth.”

“The very fact that China is also bigger, it means it has a bigger footprint in the rest of the world.  An increase in the trade surplus might be small from Chinese perspective, but it could be big from the perspective of the rest of the world,” emphasised IMF’s Division Chief researcher Jean-Marc.

Looking at the communique from the plenum, one can safely argue that the new reforms will generate economic growth opportunities and hence, a firm foundation as the country intensify efforts to become a modern socialist country by the mid-century.

From historical perspective, the opportunities these reforms will bring will as well benefit the world as we race to achieve the United Nations’s 2030 SDGs agenda. This is premised on the fact that for the last several decades, China’s economic growth has left different parts of the country enjoying the same benefits. For example, to date, the country remains a major source of  trade, investment, and innovation to the world especially the global south.

It is important to recall that, the  3rd plenary session of the 11th CPC Central Committee of 1978 introduced these reforms, laying a foundation to transform China from a peasantry and made it economic power house as the rest of the world shared benefits of China’s economic growth.

Today, the country’s economic transformation which came as a result of Beijing’s reforms has seen China’s over 800 million people lifted out of extreme poverty – a record praised by different scholars and UN as historic.

To conclude, from historical perspective and the current trend characterised by China’s desire of building a community of shared prosperity and a community of shared future for mankind, one can safely argue that the resolutions adopted at the just concluded 3rd Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC will not only help shape China’s future but will help Ignite Global Cooperation and development in the new era.

The writer is a senior research fellow at the Development Watch Centre.

What is Good Governance? The Case of China

Posted on By Moshi Isreal

China’s governance system has long been a source of contention among Western political leaders. This microscopic focus on China has been fuelled by Washington’s excessive fear of everything communist. Many in the West believe that in a world dominated by capitalism and neoliberalism, a so-called communist or socialist country cannot and should not succeed. Capitalism’s entire existence as an infallible economic system is dependent on the public shaming and failure of other alternative economic systems. Furthermore, the West sees itself as having been the most successful democratic experiment since the inception of the democratic idea in Ancient Greece. As a result, unless it is an exact replica of Western conceptions of democracy, any other political system is a sham.

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the People’s Republic of China (PRC) unexpectedly emerged as the exception to the norm, challenging existing conventional wisdom about how a country should develop and be governed. China’s success lies at the heart of its uniqueness, and it would not have been on the radar of the West if it had failed, as most other countries that have experimented with alternate forms of governance have.

However, China has arrived, demonstrating unequivocally that capitalism and Westernization are not the only roads to prosperity, nor is Western democracy the only good system of governance. There is nothing wrong with Western democracy; the fault is with the Western political class, which believes that their form of government is the only correct one.

To resolve this dispute, people must first ask themselves, “What is governance?” What, more specifically, is good governance?  If, as many in the West believe, China’s system of governance is flawed, we should apply the good governance test to it. To do so, we must first define what good governance is, what it includes, and how China measures up to it. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that China is a democratic and well-governed country; this is not to imply that China’s style of government is flawless, just as it is absurd for the West to argue that their system is the only right one.

Most rational individuals and groups would like to live in a society that is well-governed. Good governance is a continuous process that needs to be pursued consistently. Therefore, no country is perfect because good governance requires constant improvement which adapts to contemporary realities and anticipates future challenges. We can all agree that a well-governed country should be developed or developing, its citizens should be fairly prosperous and well-provided for in most aspects of their lives, its institutions should be efficient, the country’s administration should be inclusive and participatory, the country should be stable and governed by the rule of law, development should be sustainable and environmentally friendly, and the government should have a strategic vision for the future and must be able to build consensus.

China has been governed by a single party, the CPC, since the revolution. The CPC’s manner of governance combines Marxist concepts, traditional Chinese customs, and elements of Western systems to establish a socialist government with Chinese characteristics. The CPC has presided over China’s remarkable economic progress, and one of its major successes has been the emancipation of nearly a billion people from absolute poverty. The CPC has succeeded in establishing political consensus in China, with its policies widely supported and the majority of its inhabitants satisfied with the country’s course. The party is a coherent body that is led from the top but has a strong grassroots core. Every decision is decided by the party, with other democratic parties serving as consultants.

China considers itself a developing country, even though it is the second largest economy in the world, it is a global manufacturing hub with about 28% of global output and is largely known as the world’s factory. This has enabled the country to be relatively rich.

China’s whole process people’s democracy is an effective system of governance that ensures everyone is included and participates in the administration of the country. Cities in China, for example, have suggestion boxes where residents can leave their concerns and recommendations for public officials. These issues are frequently resolved in a timely manner. Within 48 hours after expressing their concerns, the complainant is contacted, and a further 48 hours are employed to examine the issue and uncover viable remedies. Few other governments, if any, can do this, demonstrating the effectiveness of Chinese public institutions and the effective responsiveness of public officials. Public authorities may be promoted or recognized for each problem satisfactorily resolved.

Furthermore, China is a technology powerhouse, with 5G and significant expenditures in renewable energy technologies. The country has committed to reaching carbon neutrality and peaking by 2030, and it is continually cleaning up its air. Chinese society is increasingly being constructed for long-term green growth. China leads in the adoption of EVs, accounting for about 60% of all newly registered electric vehicles in 2022. Moreover, China is very competitive when it comes to the development of AI technology, second only to the United States. Recent US sanctions against China over chip-making technology have mostly backfired, and China is now becoming self-sufficient in the chip-making market. The CPC’s emphasis on green development is the essence of good governance since it shows that the government prioritizes the long-term safety and well-being of its citizens. Because the climate change threat is existential, it demands dedicated political will to address and alleviate and China has shown exceptional readiness.

China is a politically stable country that is secure both internally and externally. Every citizen wishes to live in a mostly crime-free society regulated by the rule of law, which is equitably applied. China’s crime rate is quite low, and I don’t think anyone will feel comfortable invading China very soon. The infrastructure is first-rate and modern, effectively serving the people and contributing to economic development. In comparison to the United States and other European countries, China’s subway system is cutting-edge. It also has well-built, clean roads, airports, and bridges that have boosted connection throughout the country.

China’s population is properly educated, with the government providing 9 years of free education to all Chinese children. Its higher education is centered on graduating as many students as possible in STEM topics, ensuring that the next generation leads the country in science, technical innovation, and mathematics. This exemplifies the CPC’s long-term strategic strategy for its young people.

Overall, China checks the majority of the boxes for excellent governance. As the government’s leader, the CPC qualifies as a legitimate party with the people’s mandate. The right to a dignified life is the most important human right. It makes no sense to be allowed to vote but never receive the services for which you vote. What good is a democracy if it cannot meet the demands of its citizens?  The ultimate purpose of any democratic society is to ensure that its people are prosperous and happy and that they can look forward to the future with hope, assurance, and security. China performs quite well on this parameter, and hence, to any sensible person, the CPC runs a well-governed democratic country, the Chinese way.

The Writer is a Senior Research Fellow with the Development Watch Centre

 

The 74th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China: Celebrations are in Order

Posted on By Moshi Isreal

In 1949, then Chinese leader Mao Zedong declared the creation of the People’s Republic of China. A new era in China’s history begun under the stewardship of the Communist Party of China (CPC). A new kind of socialism with Chinese Characteristics took root. A new vision for a better China was still in its infancy and the building blocks were placed on top of one another, one by one. Fast forward, seventy-four years later, and the Peoples Republic of China is an entirely new country, with unprecedented development and a lot of potential for even more growth. The CPC revolutionized the thinking of the Chinese people, and placed them on a path of modernisation, that has been dubbed a miracle by many.

Several factors have contributed to China’s development, prominent among them being strategic government planning, service to the common people and rapid industrialization driven by a unique brand of political organization and mobilisation by the CPC. Opening up of China to the rest of the world put the Country on a healthy development path and by and large the CPC has managed to rid most Chinese of the colonial mindset that has held many developing countries back.

China today is a world giant that has put the rest of the world on a new agenda that emphasizes win-win partnerships, mutual benefits and peaceful development, with the aim of achieving a truly multipolar world. China has created the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that has taken the world by storm by increasing connectedness of the global trade routes with the aim of doing mutually beneficial business. Furthermore, the country has published several white papers laying out China’s vision on the Global Security Initiative (GSI), Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). These initiatives, are China’s vision for a better world of today and tomorrow. They aim to achieve the ultimate Chinese ideals of cooperation and peaceful development.

During the celebrations of the 74th anniversary of the founding of China, organised by the Embassy of China in Uganda at Sheraton Hotel, I witnessed a profound display of China’s good will and respectful cooperation with our country – Uganda. There was a marvellous display of cultural fusion and a profound display of how Chinese people have adapted to the Ugandan scene. Both Chinese and Ugandans performed together cultural dances and songs that revealed to me how far our relations with China have come.

The speeches by China and Uganda’s government officials reflected on the already existing cooperation between the two countries and the potential for future engagements. China has proved to be a reliable partner to Uganda especially at a time when the latter is facing an impasse with western governments and their institutions. The issues of same sex relations and the construction of the EACOP pipeline has put Uganda at odds with western powers with the small African country courting the ire of powerful western regimes on grounds of ideological differences.

On a more positive note, the 74th celebrations of the founding of the PRC should serve to remind us of only the good times and encourage us to look further into the future when it comes to Uganda’s relations with China. Through trade and cultural cooperation, Uganda is already an established friend of China. The latter has taken steps to educate all developing countries on what it has been doing that has set it apart from other developing nations without following western models of development.

China is now among the leading countries in sustainable development issues, infrastructure development, trade and digital development. It is the duty of all countries seeking true independence and sustainable development to probe the ‘how and why?’. This is a point the deputy Ambassador, His Excellency Fan Xuencheng emphasized during his speech; China’s development under the Chinese context. That’s the mantra the Ugandan people should accommodate and practice.

As an African, I think there’s much we can learn from China’s development path and apply what we think can work for us. Perhaps, one can only hope that during the next anniversary of the founding of the PRC, that by that time, most of African countries will have taken the necessary steps to put their respective countries on a unique development path with African characteristics. Our Achilles heel lies is rampant corruption, a vice that our partners in China have fought vehemently and defeated.

The African mantra should be the undisputed theme of Adopting, Improvising and overcoming especially under current tensions with the west. Thank goodness, we have an ally like China to learn from.

Moshi Israel is a senior research fellow at the Development Watch Centre.

 

 

 

CELEBRATING CHINA-AFRICA’s WIN-WIN RELATIONS AS PRC TURNS 74

Posted on By Admin

By Steven Akabwayi

On Friday the 29th September, China started a week-long celebration dubbed the golden week. It is marked the 74th anniversary since Mao Zedong the chairman of the Communist Party of China (CPC) formally proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949.

Since then, relations between China and Africa have evolved considerably amidst the ideological struggle that culminated in the 1960s between the US, Russia, and China.

Though not strong ties as it is now, starting from the early 1980s, China has always placed great importance to relations with African countries. Arguably, at the start of the start of the millennia China’s relations with Africa and the rest of global south started growing at a speed never seen before.

China is currently Africa’s largest trading partner, experts observe that trade between the US and Africa has been declining over the past years, this has been largely attributed to China’s warm approach to Africa over the years.

The Sino-Africa relations were established based on a win-win philosophy, under this philosophy, China vowed to treat Africa with the spirit of sincerity, genuine cooperation, and mutual respect which has been a thread linking China and Africa for more than the past seven decades.

Western countries on the other hand have failed to recognize Africa as their equal resulting in unfair treatment and lack of mutual respect, the West still views Africa as a place of humanitarian crisis and a battleground for ideological competition between global powers. It is not a surprise that in May 2000, United Kingdom’s Magazine the Economist described Africa as a “Hopeless Continent.” Today, one can safely argue that with China’s win-win cooperation philosophy guided by President Xi Jinping’s promoted principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and the principles of pursuing the greater good and shared interests, China-Africa relations have seen the continent become the centre of attraction and that some western countries see it as a battle ground for the west and China.

Just like a famous internet meme reads, “When China is in Africa, it’s talking about trade but when the US is in Africa, it’s talking about China”.

Since its founding in 1949, the PRC’s role in Africa has defied and continued to expose Western-engineered stereotypes and fallacies that intend to blackmail China-Africa relations as a one-sided favor for China.

Beijing has continued to express itself as a long-established diplomatic partner and key investor in the African continent for the past 74 years.

In one of his interviews in 2022, Uganda’s president Kaguta Museveni demystified allegations commonly peddled by Western countries that Beijing expands its influence by drawing smaller economies into a debt trap.

“Africa has been having problems for the last 600 years due to the slave trade, colonialism, neocolonialism, and none of it was from China,” he said.

Since the 1960s, Uganda and China have enjoyed deep and sound diplomatic relations, the two countries are glued together by strong economic relations which have been significantly bolstered by the Belt and Road Initiative in the past decade increasing trade between the two countries to about a billion USD.

President Museveni further hailed China for having maintained tight coordination and collaboration with Uganda for over 60 years through numerous joint projects.

China has invested in all major sectors that are critical for Africa’s economic transformation and integration drive.

Chinese investments in Africa encompass infrastructure development such as roads notably the Entebbe- Kampala express highway in Uganda, the Railway line connecting Adis Ababa and Djibouti, the Mombasa -Nairobi standard gauge railway, Karuma dam in Uganda, telecommunication networks among other infrastructures.

These projects have paved the way for years of commercial and economic engagements throughout the continent.

Chinese state-owned agencies and financing institutions have always acted as a friend in need for African countries by supplying soft loans to African countries on critical projects that require heavy funding that cannot not contained in most African countries’ national budgets.

After most Western financing institutions recently pulling out from funding the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) whose plan is to transport crude oil from the Albertine region to the Indian Ocean, a Chinese company stepped in to save the project.

Mrs Irene Bateebe permanent secretary under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development in Uganda confirmed that Sinosure, the Chinese state-owned provider of export credit insurance is working with Exim Bank to provide the largest funding for the pipeline.

As one way of ensuring food security in Uganda, China has supported agricultural projects geared towards agricultural modernization. Under the FOA-China Uganda South-South Corporation Project, Uganda’s agriculture ministry has been supported in quality seed breeding and cultivation of a variety of quality seeds such as rice, sorghum, maize among others. These have been availed to various districts to support smallholder farmers.

As China aims at a multipolar world and reform of global governance as opposed to America’s hegemony, Beijing has found it necessary to maintain developing countries as a bedrock and strategic focus of its foreign policy until the existing capability gap between third-world and developed nations is narrowed.

China has recently also shown unrivaled support for the African Continental Free Trade Area and AU’s accession to the G20 by pressuring Western countries that dominated the club.

China’s foreign policy to Africa has won the hearts of many African leaders given its nonexpansionist and conflict-averse approach. This has enabled it to foster a community based on cooperative security, common development, and political inclusiveness for the past decades since its founding.

For years, China has developed solid ties with African governments, this is demonstrated by the quality and number of high-level exchange visits, and support China receives from African countries at the United Nations and other international forums.

Steven Akabwayi is a Research Fellow at the Development Watch Centre.

 

The 74 Anniversary of The Founding of People’s Republic of China: What It Means to Africa

Posted on By Alan Collins Mpewo

By Alan Collins Mpewo

The 74th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China is a significant date for both China and Africa. It was on October 1st 1949 when then Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong announced the creation of People’s Republic of China (PRC). This big announcement which in many ways resulted into the birth of today’s modern China came as a result of the Chinese Communist Party defeating the Nationalists in the civil war, a development that saw the Communist Party of China (CPC) control over China the country fully recognised as nationalists surrendered and a few others fled. While the announcement was seen as China’s, if critically analysed, it was also significant for Africa, as it signaled the beginning of a new era of Chinese history and Africa’s relations with China. Since that time, the Peoples Republic of China has become one of Africa’s most important partners, providing much-needed economic and political support. The relationship between China and Africa has grown steadily over the past few decades, and today the two sides enjoy close cooperation on a range of issues.

The 74th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China thus holds great significance for both China and Africa. It is a day to celebrate the strong ties between our two countries and to look forward to even closer cooperation in the future. But 74 years is not a disposable feat. Since the 1’st of October in the not so past 74 years, the major message that has been sang by the People’s Republic of China has been independence for its partners – Africa states and otherwise.

For African communities, the 74th anniversary of the founding of China marks not only a celebration of Chinese culture, but also provides a glimpse into what the future of African-Chinese exchanges and collaborations could achieve. Through the continued development of enriching bilateral ties, both sides stand to benefit greatly as the years go by. It can not be said in tire that the under the belt and road initiative, China has made an incredible impact on infrastructure in many African countries, with Shanghai based construction engineering firm China State Construction Engineering Corporation building many new rail networks, roads, schools, and hospitals across the continent. This has no doubt had profound impacts on local communities, who now have access to regular healthcare, education, and transportation that wouldn’t have been so easily available without China’s intervention.

The People’s Republic of China has also been an important trading partner for many African countries, particularly those in Southern and Eastern Africa. China’s entrance into the African market has made it a valuable trading partner, with Chinese goods being shipped in to supplement the continent’s domestic markets, creating much-needed jobs and revenues for producers, the distributors, and sellers alike.

For much of the past century, China and its people have made a concerted effort to strengthen relations with African countries, providing aid, opportunities for investment and mutual growth, and trade agreements. This relationship has only grown over time, with officials from both sides recognizing the importance of bolstering cooperation between African and Chinese communities. As such, the founding of the People’s Republic of China represents a landmark moment for Africans, providing hope that the future will bring great economic, political, and social progress.

Besides all the outstanding achievements reached thus far by the two bloc partners, the caution of consciousness has to be elevated past lands and generations ahead. The human race is much more than the political baits that present themselves. Colonialism didn’t end in the final period of the 1900’s. The phenomenon is multifaceted, and presently comes in large scale neocolonialism. The origin of the celebration by the PRC is based on the yearn for independence, and ultimately no other. Independence is not one to be achieved without much effort, and so while it is understandable that there has been much complacency by those supposed to propel the fight, there should be no compromise to achieving the ultimate goals. BRICS has taken out a line of agreement against the leading imperialism and double standards, an initiative that includes a push from China.

Therefore, with the birth of the FOCAC was a clear indication of respect to each State’s sovereignty through partnerships and mutual benefits, it is of no doubt that the relations have attracted more new entrants each year that succeeds another. Uganda has been one of the greatest beneficiaries, and one of the oldest to relate with PRC diplomatically having passed the 60 years mark of diplomacy not so long ago. There is therefore no need to overemphasize what the two blocs have achieved and what stands as an open door yet to be used. But along the way, still stands obstacles of imperialism and self-seeking to navigate past. So, while this period is to be hoisted with significance on the past, it can sincerely be hoped that it will shape the future for the two blocs to more successes.

Alan Collins Mpewo, Senior Research Fellow, Development Watch Centre.

 

China’s Cooperation with Africa is a Win-win Cooperation

Posted on By Abdurahim Ssemanda

Dear Editor, on Thursday 27th July 2023 Sino-Uganda Research Centre, a Ugandan Think Tank dedicated to analysis of Uganda’s foreign policy and diplomacy in international milieux with focus on China-Uganda relations left me deeply thinking much about China-Uganda cooperation.  The symposium which ran under the theme “A New Era of China-Africa Relations: What is in it For Uganda?” saw different scholars and researchers discussing different topics among others China’s development path to modernisation and what lessons can Uganda and Africa in general draw from it, and role of women in development among others.

Partly organised to discuss likely implications of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in regard to China-Africa Cooperation as well as the outcomes of the China-Uganda cooperation, Sino-Uganda Research Centre released results for research entitled “perceptions about China-Uganda Relations: Public and Key Stakeholder’s Perspectives,” towards China-Uganda relations. The findings showed that majority of Ugandans are happy and support China-Uganda cooperation with 76% of Ugandans commending China’s role in supporting Uganda’s development plans especially through infrastructure funding support crediting the support for improving the countries road sector, creating employment opportunities to Ugandan and training as well as offering scholarship opportunities.

While according to Sino-Uganda Research Centre, only 22% of Ugandans believe China’s loaning terms to Uganda are fair, with the discussion of China’s development assistance, one can conclude that this area is always left out by Ugandans and Africans in general to be analysed and discussed by western media who arguably always want to criticise China’s engagement with the rest of the world. This is partly because; by playing a positive role in economic development of developing countries, China shrinks the so-called traditional development partners’ role who are largely western countries and secondly, because in most of Chinese funding are implemented by Chinese firms, a negative narrative is created since these Chinese firms take contracts which western countries firms normally want. Therefore, the negative feeling of Chinese loans to African countries should always be expected because of western media narratives and propaganda.

Indeed, Professor Timothy Kerswell of Chinese University of Hong Kong explained that most of negative views towards Chinese loans are as a result of what he described as “penetration of the so-called ‘Western Debt’ trap Narrative” which lacks facts.

While lauding Sino-Uganda Research Centre for investing time and resources in research that focuses on shaping Uganda’s interests, the First Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda and Minister for East African Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, who represented the Vice President Jessica Alupo under scored importance of researchers and think tanks being independent while conducting their work. She stressed that; “aware that credible and independent research is very important in guiding policy formulation and implementation, I would like to encourage and urge you to make sure that your work is done in total observance of the principle of independence in research for the benefit of Uganda, China, and the world.”

Kadaga stressed that for the last 61 years, China and Uganda have enjoyed good relations which has seen China’s continued support to Uganda in areas such as infrastructure, agriculture, health, industry, and energy sectors emphasised Uganda government is commitment to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Speaking at the same occasion, Chinese ambassador to Uganda, Zhang Lizhong, explained that the Chinese Path to Modernisation is socialist modernisation under the leadership of the CPC, and emphasised that it is “based on China’s national reality, and draws on other countries’ experience.” Ambassador Lizhong argued that as part and parcel of humanity’s modernisation, Chinese modernisation path contains what he described as “elements that are common to other countries’ modernisation, such as industrialisation, urbanisation, greater democracy, and rule of law. Meanwhile, it also has unique Chinese features as it is rooted in the Chinese context.”

If we critically analyse ambassador Lizhong’s words in regard to China’s development path, it is not a surprise that when China announced that the country had eliminated extreme poverty, United Nations described the rate at which China achieved this as a record time. The point of emphasis here is that China took a path that that is/was compatible to the country because, their development path is/was “based on China’s national reality.”

Upon that background and recalling the failed structural adjustment programs (SAPs) which Bretton Woods Institutions particularly the International Monetary Fund (IMF) imposed on Africa, it looks clear that China’s path to development if considered may be the magic bullet for African countries to attain development and modernisation, more importantly, modernisation. Put differently, while African countries may learn from other countries’ development path, it is important that like China which decided to take a development path with Chinese characteristics or which is compatible with their national realities, African countries must also take a path that is compatible with our national realties but not simply following any program as it was in 1980s when IMF forced many of developing countries especially in Africa and Latin America to follow SAPs.

The other interesting revelation was arguments by Ambassador Lizhong that China’s modernisation path is premised on a view that modernisation should not be considered as a reserve of one country or individual stressing that Chinese modernisation is the modernisation of common prosperity for all, and will open up a broader path to common development of all countries. “Modernisation should not make the rich richer and the poor poorer. Common prosperity for the whole world requires prosperity of all countries,” argued ambassador Lizhong.

In a nutshell, looking at China’s continuous engagement with African countries and Chinese leaders’ consistency in their communication, there is no reason to doubt or question China’s relations with Africa. As a Ugandan, I have no reason to conclude that as Africans let’s joint our hands together, to open up a new chapter of China-Ugandan friendship of solidarity, friendship and cooperation, and jointly build the China-Ugandan and China-Africa Community of Shared Future in the New Era!

Arnold Katende Ricky and Ssemanda Abdurahim are Research Fellows at The Development Watch Centre.