Africa: Modernization in Motion – China-Africa Think Tank Forum

From the towering skyline of Beijing, where policies are drafted to redefine global development, to bustling city of Kunming, Yunnan China where ancient routes once shaped global commerce a new conversation unfolds.

China’s modernization has transformed economies and governance structures worldwide. This transformation is now reaching deeper into China-Africa cooperation where shared aspirations for growth, resilience, and interconnected prosperity take centre stage.

The 14th China-Africa Think Tank Forum, held on May 20, of this year in Kunming, China Yunnan province brought together officials, scholars and diplomats from China and over 50 African countries to discuss governance experience and pathways for modernization.

The event was jointly organized by the Secretariat of the Chinese Follow up Committee of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the China-Africa Institute and the Secretariat of the National Top Think Tank of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. It was centred around the theme “China-Africa Governance Experience and Exchanges and Chinese Modernization”.

The Forum highlighted how China’s poverty alleviation strategies, grassroots governance models, and policy implementation could provide valuable lessons for Africa’s modernization efforts. Building on the foundation set in Dar es Salaam, Kunming forum expanded discussions on modernization and governance by emphasizing tangible solutions.

Modernization Beyond Economics

Discussions at the forum emphasized that modernization extends beyond economic advancement. Speaking at the event, Namibia’s Ambassador to China Elia Kaiyamo framed modernization as a multifaceted journey, noting that it extends beyond economic advancement.

“Modernization is a complex journey, unique to each nation’s historical, cultural, and socioeconomic context. But beneath those differences lies a universal aspiration: to improve lives, eradicate poverty and build resilient societies,” Ambassador Kaiyamo said.

His perspective on modernization as a holistic journey sets the tone for further discussions on economic development.

Adding to this perspective, Zhao Yong, an official from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting Africa’s development, reinforcing the principles highlighted by Ambassador Kaiyamo.

Zhao emphasized that China is committed to helping African countries achieve modernization and strengthen their capacity for self-sustained growth.

Somalia’s Ambassador to China Hodan Osman Abdi reflected on the significance of China’s development model, cautioning against viewing modernization solely through an economic lens.

Ambassador Abdi emphasized three essential areas for modernization namely, human capital development, resource sustainability and cultural strength.

“Without infrastructure and connectivity, it is very difficult for African countries to actually achieve measurable economic growth and common modernization. Perhaps infrastructure and connectivity are the first point of reference,” Ambassador Abdi said.

She added that the second point is creating the knowledge and human capital to drive this modernization, stating that “without adequate human capital assets, the knowledge and the technical skills would be very difficult for us to actually achieve real modernization in the sense China has.”

The third, Abidi added, is the sustainability of our resources. “We have a wealth of resources, whether it is natural resources or even the resources which could be used towards tourism or other areas. There are a lot of lessons to learn from China in how to adequately utilize these resources while not compromising on their sustainability,” Abidi added.

Echoing this sentiment, President of the China-Africa Institute Ye Hailin said that “the fundamental value underpinning China-Africa think tank collaboration is their shared pursuit of modernization.”

According to Ye, in recent years, the collective rise of Global South countries has been remarkable. “Africa has made significant strides in modernization, opening up more avenues for exchange and integration and sharing the agendas for discussion.

Strategic Opportunities for Africa

Approached for a comment, Economist Joseph Sheehama who attended the 14th China-Africa Think Tank Forum highlighted the strategic importance of China-Africa cooperation in industrialization and economic transformation.

Sheehama noted that China’s investments in infrastructure, industrial development and sustainability projects are critical for Africa’s long-term economic growth.

According to Sheehama, Africa must leverage its natural resources strategically to ensure that investment sectors such as mining, technological innovation and renewable energy align with sustainable development goals.

Sheehama stressed that China’s modernization offers valuable lessons for Namibia and Africa at large, particularly in capacity building, foreign investment and trade expansion.

“China’s growing influence in Africa provides opportunities for Namibia to build strategic partnerships and access global markets. Namibia and China aim to achieve equitable modernization through governance experience exchanges and mutual learning and win-win modernization with joint implementation of the Global Development Initiative,” Sheehama said.

Seeking to capitalize on each other’s strength, Sheehama said Namibia and China are planning to enhance governance experience exchanges which will allow Namibia to learn from Chinese modernization and the Global South to strengthen trade through a win-win approach.

In essence, Sheehama added not only Namibia but Africa as a whole has created a balanced mutual relationship with China, which allows the parties involved to follow techniques that are appropriate on a country-to-country basis.

According to Sheehama, China’s modernization prioritizes people-centred growth, shared wealth, and harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

“China’s Common African Agro-Parks Program intends to assist the development of Africa’s agricultural and industry chains by engaging in localized agricultural input production and increasing productivity.

“Additionally, the China-Africa agricultural and technology cooperation will expand through collaborative research centers, with a focus on kinds of seeds and high-yield agriculture,” Sheehama said.

Sheehama emphasized that culture plays a vital role in modernization, quoting Namibia’s Founding President H.E. Dr. Sam Nujoma “A nation without culture is a nation without value and will not gain the respect of other nations.”

This is the principle, Sheehama says, which is the main tenet of modernization.

“Without cultural appreciation, it is impossible to achieve Agenda 2063: The Africa we want,” Sheehama said.

Reflection from Previous Forum

The 13th China-Africa Forum held in 2024 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, laid an important foundation for discussions at this year’s event.

The outcome of that forum which is known as the Dar es Salaam Consensus, emphasized deepening global development cooperation based on mutual respect solidarity and shared prosperity.

I recall how the last rays of the sun stretched across my screen, as I logged into a virtual discussion- a continuation of what inspired the 13th China-Africa Think Tank Forum in Dar es Salaam.

It was a rare opportunity to listen first hand to Professor Justin Yifu Lin, a leading economist and Dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics at Peking University.

During the discussion, Lin reflected on a key challenge.

“Raising productivity is essential to improving the well-being of African people, but how do we collectively achieve it?” Lin said.

Professor Lin further noted that advancing productivity requires the integration of new technology across all sectors of production and economic systems. “Industrialization in African countries is needed.

We need to use better modern technology to raise the level of productivity and push back poverty,” Lin added.

As I followed the news reports and engaged attendees such as Economist Joseph Sheehama, who had participated in the 14th China-Africa Think Tank Forum, it became clear that modernization should not be viewed as a rigid blueprint but as an adaptable framework for nations to implement in alignment with their realities.

Although I was not physically present at the event, the conversation with Sheehama allowed me to piece together the evolving discourse on governance, industrialization and economic transformation.

A Global vision for Modernization

My thoughts drifted back to another moment during my China Development Studies 2024 Media exchange program where I attended lectures by esteemed professors of the Renmin University of China at the Jianguomenwai Diplomatic Residence Compound Multifunctional Hall in Beijing.

One lecture stood out, it’s “From Chinese Modernization to Global Modernization for all” delivered by Professor Dr. Wang Jiwei, a Chair Professor and Director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University.

He articulated a broader perspective that “modernization must serve the needs of people, ensuring access to technology, education and sustainable development”.

The Belt and Road Initiative Wang said is more than infrastructure, it is a global network and a partnership woven from shared ambitions.

Wang noted that modernization is not just about economic growth, it is also about people’s aspirations, whether in China or Africa. As Professor Wang eloquently phrased: “We must turn the world’s people’s aspirations for a better life into a reality”.

“China’s modernization is not meant to be exclusive, instead it presents a new approach for developing nations to adapt modernization models to their own realities,” Wang remarked.

Wang described Africa’s potential as not just a recipient of global modernization but an active partner shaping the future alongside China.

As Namibia and the rest of Africa deepen their cooperation with China, the true measure of modernization will be its ability to uplift communities, foster sustainable growth and create a future that benefits all.