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Xi Jinping commits $50 billion to boost Africa’s infrastructure development


Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged more than $50 billion in financial support to Africa over the next three years, aiming to expand China’s economic influence and strengthen development partnerships across the continent. The announcement was made during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit in Beijing on Thursday, Sept. 5, where leaders from more than 50 African nations gathered.

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China plans to enhance trade, agriculture, and infrastructure development, with a commitment to creating at least 1 million jobs.

Xi outlined a broader commitment to modernizing Africa, promising $30 billion in credit lines, $10 billion in investments by Chinese companies, and other forms of assistance, including military aid. He emphasized that modernization is a right for all nations and criticized the Western approach for causing “immense suffering” in developing countries.

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China’s deeper involvement in Africa is also part of a broader strategy to boost its standing in the global south.

The move comes as China continues to position itself as Africa’s largest trading partner, overtaking the U.S. in 2009. Last year, China approved nearly $5 billion in loans, the first increase since 2016, though concerns have been raised about the rising debt burden on African nations.

In contrast, the United States committed $55 billion to Africa in 2022, focusing on health, climate change, and women’s economic participation.

Since May, the Biden-Harris administration has signed 75 deals aimed at meeting its aid goal by 2025. U.S. initiatives emphasize public health, with significant investments in HIV/AIDS treatment, malaria prevention and COVID-19 response.

Xi’s latest pledge also signals a shift in China’s approach. Moving away from larger, debt-heavy infrastructure projects, he is focusing on smaller, targeted initiatives, which he described as “small and beautiful.”

These efforts will prioritize clean energy, industrial growth, and advanced technologies, addressing Africa’s energy shortages while promoting sustainable development.

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[LAUREN TAYLOR]

CHINA IS MAKING BIG MOVES TO STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS AFRICA.

PRESIDENT XI JINPING IS PLEDGING MORE THAN 50-BILLION-DOLLARS IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, EXPANDING CHINA’S ECONOMIC INFLUENCE AND DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS ON THE CONTINENT.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AFTER THE LEADERS OF MORE THAN 50 AFRICAN NATIONS GATHERED FOR A COOPERATION SUMMIT IN BEIJING.

CHINA WANTS TO BOOST TRADE, AGRICULTURE, AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, WITH A COMMITMENT TO CREATING AT LEAST 1 MILLION JOBS.

DURING THE SUMMIT, XI OUTLINED A COMMITMENT TO MODERNIZING AFRICA, PROMISING $30 BILLION IN CREDIT LINES, $10 BILLION IN INVESTMENTS BY CHINESE COMPANIES, AND OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING MILITARY AID.

XI IS STRESSING THAT MODERNIZATION IS A RIGHT FOR ALL NATIONS SAYING THE WESTERN APPROACH HAS “INFLICTED IMMENSE SUFFERINGS ON DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.”

IN 2022, THE U.S. COMMITTED $55 BILLION-DOLLARS TO AFRICA OVER THREE YEARS, FOCUSING ON HEALTH, CLIMATE CHANGE, TRADE, AND WOMEN’S ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION. SINCE MAY OF THIS YEAR , THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION HAS SIGNED 75 DEALS, MOVING CLOSER TO THEIR GOAL OF DELIVERING $55 BILLION IN AID TO AFRICA BY 2025.

CHINA IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST BILATERAL LENDER AND CONTINUES TO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT.

HELPING BUILD ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE RAILWAYS, PORTS, AND HIGHWAYS.

SINCE OVERTAKING THE U.S. AS AFRICA’S TOP TRADING PARTNER IN 2009, CHINA HAS STEPPED UP ITS EFFORTS, APPROVING ALMOST 5-BILLION-DOLLARS IN LOANS LAST YEAR, THE FIRST INCREASE SINCE 2016. WHILE THESE PROJECTS HAVE BOOSTED ECONOMIC GROWTH, SOME CRITICS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISING DEBT FOR AFRICAN NATIONS.

IN RESPONSE, XI’S LATEST PLEDGE INCLUDES AN APPARENT SHIFT FROM LARGER DEBT-LADEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO SMALLER, TARGETED INITIATIVES, WHICH HE DESCRIBES AS “SMALL AND BEAUTIFUL.”

THESE PROJECTS WILL FOCUS ON CLEAN ENERGY, INDUSTRIAL GROWTH, AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, ADDRESSING AFRICA’S ENERGY SHORTAGES WHILE FOSTERING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

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