China and African countries are both developing countries. Similar historical experiences, common struggles and consistent development tasks make the destiny of China and Africa closely linked. Fundamentally, the essence of Africa's problems is the development problem, which is how to eliminate poverty, improve people's livelihood, expand employment and enhance national competitiveness. Development is the key to solving all problems, and development cooperation is the foundation of the construction of a community of shared future between China and Africa.

On September 21, 2021, President Xi Jinping proposed the global development initiative at the general debate of the seventy sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly, which aims to revitalize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and promote global development to a new stage of balance, coordination and inclusiveness. Since the Global Development Initiative was put forward, it has received extensive support from 53 African countries and the African Union, injecting new impetus into the joint development of China and Africa. Based on this, China and Africa jointly promote the docking of the "Belt and Road" initiative with the African Union's 2063 Agenda, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the Initiative to Support Africa's Development Partners, which is the only way to jointly implement the global development initiative.

Africa plays an important role in the implementation of global development initiatives, and China Africa cooperation to promote the implementation of global development initiatives has taken the lead in the international community. First, Africa is an important participant in global development initiatives. Africa is the region with the largest number of developing countries in the world and the main beneficiary of global development initiatives. African countries' active participation in the global development initiative will help accelerate Africa's own development and achieve the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Secondly, Africa is an important practitioner of global development initiatives. Africa is rich in natural resources and human resources, and has great development potential. African countries actively implement the global development initiative, which will help promote cooperation in infrastructure construction, industrial upgrading, human resources development and other fields in Africa, and achieve sustainable development. Finally, Africa is an important driver of global development initiatives. With the increasingly firm pace of unity and self-improvement, the influence of African countries on the international stage is rising. African countries actively support and promote global development initiatives, which will help to build consensus in the international community, strengthen development cooperation and jointly address global challenges. As the Secretary General of the United Nations Guterres said: Only if Africa succeeds, can efforts to achieve the goal of sustainable development succeed.

China is Africa's strategic partner in achieving sustainable development. Since its establishment in 2000, the FOCAC mechanism has focused on the common prosperity and sustainable development of the Chinese and African people and has become an efficient platform for South South cooperation. The "ten cooperation plans", "eight actions" and "nine projects" launched at the 2015 Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation, the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation and the 2021 eighth ministerial meeting of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation have pushed the level of China Africa economic and trade cooperation to an all-time high. According to incomplete statistics, China has built more than 6000 kilometers of railways, more than 6000 kilometers of roads, nearly 20 ports, and more than 80 large-scale power facilities in Africa, which has effectively promoted the economic and social development of African countries.

In addition to the bilateral cooperation mechanism between China and Africa, China has also actively promoted China Africa cooperation within the BRICS mechanism and other multilateral frameworks. On August 24, 2023, the China Africa Leaders' Dialogue was held during the 15th BRICS Leaders' Meeting. After the meeting, China issued three measures, namely, the Initiative to Support Africa's Industrialization, China's Plan to Help Africa's Agricultural Modernization, and the China Africa Talent Training Cooperation Plan, to support African integration and modernization and sustainable development of the African continent.

Multilateralism is an important thought and principle guiding China Africa cooperation. Strengthening cooperation with third parties such as United Nations agencies is an innovative initiative for China and Africa to jointly implement the global development initiative. On February 19, 2024, the China International Development Cooperation Agency, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Ministry of Industry of Ethiopia signed a joint statement on tripartite cooperation. This is the first time that the Office of State Cooperation has signed a trilateral cooperation document with a United Nations agency and an African country, focusing on promoting the "small and beautiful" cooperation project. In the future, China Africa cooperation will adhere to a more development attitude, carry out practical cooperation with third-party countries, United Nations agencies, regional organizations, etc., continue to create an open, multi-dimensional and inclusive cooperation mode, and enhance the inclusiveness of industrial chain cooperation.

Jointly implementing the global development initiative is the cornerstone of building a high-level China Africa community of common destiny. As a strategic partner of development cooperation, China will continue to maintain close communication with African countries, jointly promote the establishment of global development initiatives, promote the construction of a more equitable, reasonable, inclusive and inclusive development pattern, and constantly create a new situation of China Africa cooperation.

(The author is a professor of the School of International Relations of Renmin University of China and director of the Institute of International Development)