The end of the year 2023 and the beginning of 2024 mark a remarkable phase in China-Africa relations. This relationship has evolved significantly and Africa continues to register key milestones in its economic development, particularly in trade, investment and infrastructure. The remarkable growth can be attributed to initiatives by the Chinese government such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and China International Import Expo (CIIE), among others. Of these, the BRI has been the…

Abdul Khalifa, 62, owns a large herd of camels in Kenya’s North Eastern Province.  Based in the rural outskirts of Garissa, a town located 367 km northeast of the nation’s capital Nairobi, a five-and-a-half-hour bus ride, Khalifa has been breeding camels for more years than he can remember.  Most of the land in the area is communal land, meaning it is wholly owned or shared by the community. Khalifa’s almost 600 camels make him one of the wealthiest herders in…

The second Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Agriculture (FOCACA) held in Sanya, south China’s Hainan Province, from 13 to 15 November 2023 has emerged as a catalyst for enhanced food cooperation between China and Africa. The outcomes of this pivotal event deepened the commitment of the two sides to cooperation, focusing on mutual benefit, sustainable development, and common prosperity. China’s exemplary development journey, marked by lifting millions out of poverty through a people-centred approach, serves as a beacon for Africa’s…

In their hometown of Hengxi Village, Xinxing Town, Songyang County, Lishui, Zhejiang Province in east China, young entrepreneurs Ye Jianhua and Fang Jing have a greenhouse estate. The couple described the 1.3-hectare area as their main battleground for entrepreneurship.  Since 2018, through artificial pollination, hybridisation and other technologies, they have cultivated and planted more than 45 rose succulents, a fascinating succulent variety. These roses with unique colours and shapes can generate over 1 million yuan ($137,000) in output value annually. …

In April 2018, Songyang County in Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, launched the “Hundred Artists Settlement in Songyang Villages Plan,” which invites artists from all over the country, to help with the protection and inheritance of local culture. It is aimed at boosting the development of traditional villages through art.  “Artists bring art to the village. Some use art to beautify the place and raise their popularity; some help villagers to create artworks as a method of poverty alleviation; some promote…

Malawi is expected to generate hundreds of jobs, thanks to the railway project China Railway Signal and Communication Corp. International will undertake in the country.  Malawi’s Minister of Transport and Public Works Jacob Hara made the comment after returning from the third Road and Belt Forum for International Cooperation that took place in Beijing in October 2023.   The Belt and Road Initiative is a global infrastructure development strategy proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, aiming to promote policy…

A two-year cycle of qualifying tournaments for the FIFA World Cup 2026 began in Africa on 15 November 2023. It is the first qualifying round after a significant change in FIFA rules that raised the number of teams competing at the finals of the World Cup to 48 from 32.   This means more African teams can take part in the coveted tournament and, therefore, greater chance for Africa’s footballing stars to shine brightly, particularly the Moroccans led by Walid Regragui,…

The diplomatic protocol of the Chinese foreign minister beginning a year’s foreign visits in Africa highlights the distinct Chinese characteristics and style in its relations with Africa. For more than 30 years, such visits have allowed Chinese foreign ministers to engage in face-to-face discussions and learn first-hand about the economic and social development in Africa, thereby helping China to deepen its understanding of the continent and adjust its Africa policies. These visits reflect China’s diplomatic philosophy of integrating knowledge and…

The year 2023 marked the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the 10th year since Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Africa in 2013, his first foreign visit after taking office, during which he proposed the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith for China’s Africa policy and the principle of upholding justice while pursuing shared interests. It also marked the opening chapter of China-Africa joint efforts towards modernisation following the 20th National Congress of…

In the heart of South Africa’s rugged Swartberg and Koue Bokkeveld mountains lies the alps towering majestically above fertile citrus farmland, forming a wall that sustains enough rainfall to attract farmers to the south.  Siabonga Mbete, 34, grows tangerine – a small seedless fruit of the citrus family that is turning South African farmers into millionaires.  As trucks veer off the dusty road into farmlands to collect some tangerines and lemons at Mbete’s smallholder farm located in Eastern Cape Province…