{"id":8422,"date":"2024-09-05T15:48:33","date_gmt":"2024-09-05T08:48:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/?p=8422"},"modified":"2024-09-05T15:48:33","modified_gmt":"2024-09-05T08:48:33","slug":"global-times-china-africa-to-stay-at-forefront-in-pursuing-modernization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/?p=8422","title":{"rendered":"Global Times: China, Africa to stay at forefront in pursuing modernization"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"legendSpanClass\"><span class=\"xn-location\">BEIJING<\/span><\/span>, <span class=\"legendSpanClass\"><span class=\"xn-chron\">Sept. 5, 2024<\/span><\/span> \/PRNewswire\/ &#8212; Chinese President\u00a0Xi Jinping on Wednesday lauded the &#8220;stellar example&#8221; of <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> relations as <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> rolled out the red carpet for African leaders attending a grand summit expected to further elevate ties.<\/p>\n<p>Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan hosted a banquet to welcome international guests who are in <span class=\"xn-location\">Beijing<\/span> for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).<\/p>\n<p>Wednesday marks the beginning of the three-day 2024 FOCAC Summit, themed &#8220;Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.&#8221; It is the largest diplomatic event hosted by <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> in recent years, with the highest attendance of foreign leaders.<\/p>\n<p>Twenty-four years ago, FOCAC was born at the dawn of a new century, said Xi, noting that through this key cooperation platform, &#8220;we have together built roads, railways, schools, hospitals, industrial parks, and special economic zones. These projects have changed the lives and destiny of many people.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Xi said the two sides have maintained close cooperation and coordination on major international and regional issues, and together have made the voice of the Global South stronger.<\/p>\n<p>He expressed confidence that as long as the 2.8 billion-strong Chinese and African people are united, &#8220;we will accomplish new and even greater feats together on the way toward modernization, spearhead the modernization drive of the Global South, and make greater contributions to a community with a shared future for mankind.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>New blueprint<\/p>\n<p>The theory and practice of Chinese modernization has provided a paradigm that can be borrowed for <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa&#8217;s<\/span> path to modernization, meanwhile outlining a new blueprint for <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> cooperation, experts said.<\/p>\n<p>Different from the discourse about &#8220;the developed and the developing,&#8221; &#8220;the North and South,&#8221; <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> has provided <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> with a very different perspective, African scholars said during the ongoing FOCAC in <span class=\"xn-location\">Beijing<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;<span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> is saying &#8216;let&#8217;s go together.&#8217; The Chinese initiative is for reaching modernization and industrialization for a better future, not going to be done by any super powers, but it&#8217;s by all the powers together as we are all partners,&#8221; <span class=\"xn-person\">Rana Mohamed Abd El AAl Mazid<\/span>, the head and associate professor of political science at Suez Canal University, <span class=\"xn-location\">Egypt<\/span>, told the Global Times.<\/p>\n<p>For African countries that had been heavily interfered by external forces in the past, <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>, which also once suffered from colonial plunder, managed to break the &#8220;modernization paradox&#8221; and dispelled the misconception that &#8220;modernization has only one model,&#8221; as it embarked on a new path with independence and autonomy, African scholars noted.<\/p>\n<p>The Chinese modernization is offering insights for <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> from two main aspects &#8211; economic development and social governance, said <span class=\"xn-person\">Song Wei<\/span>, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;<span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> achieved significant economic growth after the reform and opening-up, rapidly becoming the world&#8217;s second-largest economy. This experience is particularly attractive to <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span>, as achieving economic independence is currently their most crucial task,&#8221; Song said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In recent days, a number of leaders from the African countries made visits to Chinese cities pioneering economic development through reform and opening-up, including <span class=\"xn-location\">Shanghai<\/span> and <span class=\"xn-location\">Shenzhen<\/span>, before attending the event in <span class=\"xn-location\">Beijing<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;These cities have rich experiences in the development of economic zones, and they have successfully attracted foreign investment by optimizing their business environment. These experiences are appealing to <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> to help them attract international capital to drive growth,&#8221; Song noted.<\/p>\n<p>With challenges including various ethnic conflicts across the continent, <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> experiences in grassroots governance, minority policies, local government performance reforms, and poverty alleviation offer valuable insights, Song said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Another option&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>Chinese modernization has given <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> and the world &#8220;another option&#8221; that puts more emphasis on finding a path more suited to a country&#8217;s own conditions, experts said, with some believing that <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> case in this regard is more useful as a reference, given the similar historical backgrounds, similar starting points, and the common task of rapid transformation faced by &#8220;latecomers.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>This makes cooperation in governance capabilities between <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> and <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> particularly crucial, observers noted.<\/p>\n<p>The political landscape is evolving, with the foundations of the game shifting. <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> is establishing new pillars for a fairer system, one that promotes mutual benefit and cooperation rather than a zero-sum mentality, some experts noted.<\/p>\n<p>The role of the state in driving development is crucial, especially in managing debt for infrastructure and public goods. To revise and improve the governance structure is essential for <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> to progress with its modernization agenda, said Munetsi Madakufamba, Executive Director of Southern African Research and Documentation Centre.<\/p>\n<p>Madakufamba said that &#8220;the most important thing is <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> has walked through a similar path. It has gone through and made some mistakes along the way\u2026The cooperation between <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> and <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> is a win-win partnership, emphasizing the importance of understanding each other&#8217;s context, circumstances, and development priorities.&#8221;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><!-- wp:html --><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"legendSpanClass\"><span class=\"xn-location\">BEIJING<\/span><\/span>, <span class=\"legendSpanClass\"><span class=\"xn-chron\">Sept. 5, 2024<\/span><\/span> \/PRNewswire\/ &#8212; Chinese President\u00a0Xi Jinping on Wednesday lauded the &#8220;stellar example&#8221; of <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> relations as <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> rolled out the red carpet for African leaders attending a grand summit expected to further elevate ties.<\/p>\n<p>Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan hosted a banquet to welcome international guests who are in <span class=\"xn-location\">Beijing<\/span> for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).<\/p>\n<p>Wednesday marks the beginning of the three-day 2024 FOCAC Summit, themed &#8220;Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.&#8221; It is the largest diplomatic event hosted by <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> in recent years, with the highest attendance of foreign leaders.<\/p>\n<p>Twenty-four years ago, FOCAC was born at the dawn of a new century, said Xi, noting that through this key cooperation platform, &#8220;we have together built roads, railways, schools, hospitals, industrial parks, and special economic zones. These projects have changed the lives and destiny of many people.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Xi said the two sides have maintained close cooperation and coordination on major international and regional issues, and together have made the voice of the Global South stronger.<\/p>\n<p>He expressed confidence that as long as the 2.8 billion-strong Chinese and African people are united, &#8220;we will accomplish new and even greater feats together on the way toward modernization, spearhead the modernization drive of the Global South, and make greater contributions to a community with a shared future for mankind.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>New blueprint<\/p>\n<p>The theory and practice of Chinese modernization has provided a paradigm that can be borrowed for <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa&#8217;s<\/span> path to modernization, meanwhile outlining a new blueprint for <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> cooperation, experts said.<\/p>\n<p>Different from the discourse about &#8220;the developed and the developing,&#8221; &#8220;the North and South,&#8221; <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> has provided <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> with a very different perspective, African scholars said during the ongoing FOCAC in <span class=\"xn-location\">Beijing<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;<span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> is saying &#8216;let&#8217;s go together.&#8217; The Chinese initiative is for reaching modernization and industrialization for a better future, not going to be done by any super powers, but it&#8217;s by all the powers together as we are all partners,&#8221; <span class=\"xn-person\">Rana Mohamed Abd El AAl Mazid<\/span>, the head and associate professor of political science at Suez Canal University, <span class=\"xn-location\">Egypt<\/span>, told the Global Times.<\/p>\n<p>For African countries that had been heavily interfered by external forces in the past, <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span>, which also once suffered from colonial plunder, managed to break the &#8220;modernization paradox&#8221; and dispelled the misconception that &#8220;modernization has only one model,&#8221; as it embarked on a new path with independence and autonomy, African scholars noted.<\/p>\n<p>The Chinese modernization is offering insights for <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> from two main aspects &#8211; economic development and social governance, said <span class=\"xn-person\">Song Wei<\/span>, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;<span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> achieved significant economic growth after the reform and opening-up, rapidly becoming the world&#8217;s second-largest economy. This experience is particularly attractive to <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span>, as achieving economic independence is currently their most crucial task,&#8221; Song said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In recent days, a number of leaders from the African countries made visits to Chinese cities pioneering economic development through reform and opening-up, including <span class=\"xn-location\">Shanghai<\/span> and <span class=\"xn-location\">Shenzhen<\/span>, before attending the event in <span class=\"xn-location\">Beijing<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;These cities have rich experiences in the development of economic zones, and they have successfully attracted foreign investment by optimizing their business environment. These experiences are appealing to <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> to help them attract international capital to drive growth,&#8221; Song noted.<\/p>\n<p>With challenges including various ethnic conflicts across the continent, <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> experiences in grassroots governance, minority policies, local government performance reforms, and poverty alleviation offer valuable insights, Song said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Another option&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>Chinese modernization has given <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> and the world &#8220;another option&#8221; that puts more emphasis on finding a path more suited to a country&#8217;s own conditions, experts said, with some believing that <span class=\"xn-location\">China&#8217;s<\/span> case in this regard is more useful as a reference, given the similar historical backgrounds, similar starting points, and the common task of rapid transformation faced by &#8220;latecomers.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>This makes cooperation in governance capabilities between <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> and <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> particularly crucial, observers noted.<\/p>\n<p>The political landscape is evolving, with the foundations of the game shifting. <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> is establishing new pillars for a fairer system, one that promotes mutual benefit and cooperation rather than a zero-sum mentality, some experts noted.<\/p>\n<p>The role of the state in driving development is crucial, especially in managing debt for infrastructure and public goods. To revise and improve the governance structure is essential for <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> to progress with its modernization agenda, said Munetsi Madakufamba, Executive Director of Southern African Research and Documentation Centre.<\/p>\n<p>Madakufamba said that &#8220;the most important thing is <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> has walked through a similar path. It has gone through and made some mistakes along the way\u2026The cooperation between <span class=\"xn-location\">China<\/span> and <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span> is a win-win partnership, emphasizing the importance of understanding each other&#8217;s context, circumstances, and development priorities.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:html --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[5,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cision-pr-newswire","category-cision-pr-newswire-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8422"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8422\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}