China-Africa Business Council 2024 Report Launching Ceremony

A recording of these remarks can be found on YouTube and Tencent.

H.E. Ambassador Lei Kezhong, Department of African Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China,

Mr. Wang Xiaoyong, Executive President, China-Africa Business Council,

H.E. Mr. Martin Mpana, Dean of the Foreign Diplomatic Corps in China, Ambassador of Cameroon to China,

Excellencies, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to thank the China-Africa Business Council for the invitation to speak at this event to launch their annual report on Chinese Investments in Africa. Africa offers significant potential for Chinese companies to expand their operations, while increased investment in Africa is critical for unlocking the enormous potential for growth, development and progress across the continent. 

With the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit taking place in just a few weeks, the launch of this report will highlight both the current state of Chinese businesses’ investment in Africa and the potential for expanding these investments. The upcoming discussions at the FOCAC Beijing Summit will set the agenda for China-Africa cooperation in the coming years, and increased partnerships between Chinese and African businesses will not only accelerate growth, but also increase employment opportunities, strengthen local industries, and enhance access to essential goods and service.

The United Nations in China has supported and will continue to support China-Africa cooperation, ensuring that these partnerships adhere to international norms, standards and global best practices. In addition, the United Nations, equipped with its expertise and resources, has been supporting African countries to leverage the full potential of these partnerships, particularly in pursuit of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Following the 8th ministerial conference of FOCAC, the United Nations in China launched the China-Africa-United Nations Transformative Partnership Initiative. This initiative aims to use catalytic South-South Cooperation contributions from China to make a tangible impact on SDG progress in African countries. At the moment, several projects in Horn of Africa countries are under review, addressing issues such as agricultural development, drought response, climate change and the green energy transition. Another goal of this project is to connect African governments and businesses to Chinese expertise, and we have used our role as a convenor to bring together interested parties from both Africa and China to discuss opportunities in renewable energy and other critical areas for achieving the SDGs.

Excellencies, 

Ladies and gentlemen,

Before I conclude, I would like to draw your attention to an important event that took place last month in Beijing. At the request of His Excellency, Ambassador Ibrahima Sory Sylla, of Senegal and the African Ambassadors’ Group, the United Nations in China co-convened a pre-FOCAC symposium to provide inputs and technical expertise in areas such as the social sector and human security, food security and agricultural modernization, energy and industrialization, climate change, financing for the SDGs, and governance. This demonstrates the United Nations role as a trusted and objective partner in developing plans and policies to support countries’ development.

In conclusion, increased investment in Africa is critical to addressing the global challenges we face. Only collective efforts can we achieve the ambitions set forth in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and ensure that no person and no country is left behind. Leveraging China's international engagement and contributions is critical for advancing progress on the SDGs and the Paris Agreement. We look forward to strengthening our engagement with organizations such as the China-Africa Business council to support sustainable development objectives in Africa. The upcoming FOCAC Summit and its outcomes will create a roadmap for China-Africa cooperation in the coming years, and the United Nations will continue to explore meaningful ways to support this partnership. Together, we can build a more sustainable prosperous, and happier future for all. 

Thank you.