Africa should learn more from China’s example – AU envoy Dr. Chambas

Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, the High Representative for Silencing the Guns for the African Union (AU), encouraged African states on Thursday to take lessons from China’s experience in order for the continent to realise its dream of growth.

The counsel was given by Chambas during a keynote webinar he gave to attendees at the 2023 Abuja Forum, a conference put on by the Gusau Institute in association with the Zhejiang Normal University of China.

The Abuja forum’s topic was “Promoting Africa-China Belt and Road Cooperation for a New Era of Common Development.”

There are a few lessons I think we can draw from the Chinese experience, Chambas continued in his speech.

“Many commentators consider China’s quick development to be a miracle, but it is clear to me that this was no miracle,” said the commentator.

It wasn’t a miracle, no. It was the outcome of thorough planning that was guided by a national vision.

“The maxim ‘failing to plan is intending to fail’ is a truism.

“The Chinese were able to accurately assess and comprehend their situation, choose a course of action, and then set out to plan the precise measures that needed to be taken to get there.

We all understand that planning alone is insufficient, though.

Therefore, the discipline of policy implementation is the second crucial lesson we can draw from the Chinese experience.

“No matter how well one plans, everything will fail if it is not carried out properly. Admittedly, we have a significant issue carrying out our intentions in Africa.

“I have seen my fair share of good policy documents that were created by experts at the national, regional, and continental levels but were left on the back burner while the issues they were intended to address persisted.

“I am interested to see how partnerships between China and Africa could aid in the development of this implementation and delivery discipline.”

According to him, the Belt and Road project (BRI) and the “International Capacity Cooperation” project are the two distinct but related global programmes via which China is now attaining its longer-term aim of full economic integration.

While the “International Capacity Cooperation” initiative aims primarily to move offshore, in the form of project-specific investments, the BRI projects China’s economic connectivity and influence along two major axes (the on-land Eurasian bridge known as the “Silk Road and Economic Belt” – and the maritime route connecting seaports in China to those in Asia, Pacific, and Africa).

The former ECOWAS president noted that China has also established a number of special purpose infrastructure investment funds, including China-Arab Investment Funds, China-South America Fund, China-Africa Development Fund, and the China-Africa Fund for Industrial Cooperation, with the goal of bolstering support for China-Africa industrial capacity cooperation in support of Africa’s industrialization drive.

Thirdly, the Chinese have managed to advance without sacrificing their way of life, history, or culture.

It is amazing that they have managed to maintain their culture in the face of all external forces, including intellectual, philosophical, cultural, moral, economic, and political challenges.

READ ALSO: Capital of Guinea-Bissau is completely dark due to unpaid electricity bills

“In my opinion, the Chinese have got this far because of their capacity to uphold and enhance their way of life.

“What this shows us is that copying everything from other locations would not help us improve.

“After all, development is a healthy step in the evolution of civilization.

So how can we assess our history and culture, enhance the great elements, and address the negative elements so that we may fully utilise our vast resources to create the wealth that we as Africans so desperately want?

As we interact with our partners, this is a subject that should be on our minds constantly, Chambas remarked.

He stated that he is “particularly optimistic about what the China-Africa relationship means for peace and security” in his capacity as the AU High Representative for Silencing the Guns.

The goal of the China-Africa collaboration is to defend the shared, all-encompassing, cooperative, and sustainable security ideas while also constructing a safer, more stable, and more peaceful Africa.

“China and Africa have kept up their pursuit of peace via collaboration and conflict resolution through consultation and conversation.

He continued, “China encourages African nations in their search for African solutions to African challenges.

He claimed that the two parties are working together to “silence guns in Africa” in a timely manner.

Therefore, Chambas urged all parties to the connection between Africa and China to make it enduring and mutually beneficial.

He expressed hope that the alliance would enable Africa to fulfil the goals outlined in Agenda 2063.

The annual meeting “is billed to advance dialogue and foster more understanding between African nations and the People’s Republic of China,” retired Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Gusau, founder of the Gusau Institute, stated earlier.

It also offers the chance for frank discussion of problems that both China and Africa share.

Gusau stated that there was no doubt the forum could foster deeper friendships, better economic participation, and other mutually beneficial activities given the wide-ranging interactions between “our regions”.

He asserts that it is essential to pay more attention to the value of effective collaboration, in this example between China and Africa, in the rapidly shifting political, economic, and other global ecosystems.

“If we are to establish a fresh and practical strategic framework for addressing the more complex difficulties of this era, this is not only relevant, but also timely.

In light of recent developments, he continued, “We are convinced that any effort to shape a new international order that is stable, inclusive, and advantageous to all regions of the world, should be a collaborative effort.”

He expressed confidence that the conference would feature lots of interesting and useful encounters.

“At the Gusau Institute, we think that what Africa needs right now is a body that will come up with fresh solutions to the current and future problems the continent is facing.

“Such a body ought to be aware of how problems at home affect Africa. It should also specify the steps that must be taken in order to successfully handle the myriad security issues that affect both the continent and the rest of the world.

“Building long-lasting working ties and partnerships with organisations around the world that share similar goals is a core objective of our Institute, as we have done with Zhejiang Normal University.

The former national security adviser to former Nigerian presidents Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Goodluck Jonathan said, “We believe that cultivating strong international relationships is paramount in ensuring the world’s sustainability and future growth.”

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the institute and the Zhejiang Normal University was signed at the conference, which was its high point.

The goal of the Memorandum of Understanding is to encourage academic cooperation, conference hosting, book authorship, student exchange, and information sharing about how to obtain funds for academic objectives. (NAN)