China ready to expand cooperation in key sectors – Tong Defa

China has reaffirmed its commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation with Ghana across various fields, including agriculture, fisheries, energy, mineral resources, and infrastructure.

It also expressed readiness to strengthen the synergy of development strategies with the country and provide assistance to the best of its ability to Ghana in developing the economy and improving livelihood.

“China is ready to expand cooperation with Ghana in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, energy, mineral resources and infrastructure, and hopes that Ghana will continue to offer relevant support and convenience to Chinese enterprises and citizens.

“China is ready to carry forward the deep friendship forged by the older generation of the leaders of the two countries to constantly enhance political mutual trust, promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields and be…good partners for common development,” the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Ghana, Tong Defa has said at a press briefing in Accra.

He also highlighted support for industrialisation noting that about 28% of African goods are sold in China, hence encouraging Ghanaian businesses to seize this opportunity by presenting clear, actionable plans that align with the market demands.

He said this renewed partnership was resounded during the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Beijing early this month.

These commitments align with China’s broader strategy to foster modernisation and development in Africa through various partnership actions outlined during the summit.

FOCAC and Africa-wide benefits

The summit, attended by leaders from 53 African countries and global figures including Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, underscored dedication to deepening relationships with the African continent for mutual development.

For the broader African continent, the summit saw the adoption of two key documents, the Beijing Declaration on Jointly Building an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027), were adopted unanimously, solidifying the political consensus among the participating nations.

To strengthen China-Africa cooperation, the summit outlined ten partnership actions over the next three years, ranging from Mutual Learning among Civilisations; Trade Prosperity; Industrial Chain Cooperation; Connectivity; Development Cooperation; Health; People-to-People Exchanges; Green Development; and Common Security.

These partnership actions will see a China-Africa knowledge network for development, inviting 1,000 members of African political parties to China to deepen exchanges and opening China’s market, giving all Least developed countries (LDCs) having diplomatic relations with China zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines.

Also, China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation, launching an “African SMEs empowerment programme”; implementing 1,000 “small and beautiful” livelihood projects; establishing joint medical centers, sending 2,000 medical personnel to Africa; and providing Africa with emergency food assistance, building standardised agriculture demonstration areas, and creating at least one million jobs for Africa.

In addition, it will include implementing the Future of Africa-Vocational Education Cooperation Plan, providing 60,000 training opportunities, and designating 2026 as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

The Partnership Action for Green Development will include launching 30 clean energy projects in Africa, establishing 30 joint laboratories, and collaborating on satellite remote sensing and lunar and deep-space exploration.

The bilateral meetings with African heads of state and government officials to discuss strategic issues also saw the introduction of a six-point proposition for China-Africa cooperation aimed at advancing modernisation in a fair, inclusive, and sustainable manner.

To support these initiatives, President Xi Jinping announced a financial commitment of about US$50.6 billion including credit lines, assistance, and investments in Africa.

Trade volume and investment

Ambassador Tong highlighted the achievements of China-Africa relations over the past two decades, noting a substantial increase in trade volume and investment.

“Trade between China and Africa has surged from US$10.5 billion in 2000 to US$282.1 billion in 2023, and China’s investment in Africa has grown from less than US$500 million to over US$40 billion,” he said.

United front

It is Africa’s time to be a global power, he emphasised, urging the continent to unite and harness its potential to develop and modernise.

He further stressed that as Africa progresses towards modernisation, it is crucial not to leave any country behind, underscoring the importance of unity and collective effort in building a strong and inclusive future for the continent.

He also urged the continent to take control of their natural resources, transforming them into wealth. “We encourage Africa to take full control to turn resources into wealth, and we are ready to support,” he stated.

He also took the opportunity to discourage illegal mining activities, emphasising the need for sustainable and regulated mining practices that benefit local communities and the broader economy.