A star‑studded summit at Lilygate Hotel, Lekki, marked the 25th anniversary of the Forum on China‑Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). International delegates – diplomats, journalists, academics and policymakers – gathered on Tuesday to celebrate the partnership that has become a hallmark of South‑South diplomacy.
The event, themed _“Towards a Sustainability of the Fruitful Diplomacy Between China and Africa,”_ featured opening remarks from Chinese Consul‑General Yan Yuqing and Prof. Liu Hongwu of Zhejiang Normal University. Both speakers highlighted the dramatic growth since 2000: trade between China and Africa has jumped 27‑fold, reaching nearly $300 billion in 2024, while Chinese direct investment in Africa has expanded more than 80‑fold .
Speakers also underscored the tangible benefits that have reached ordinary Africans. Over 100,000 km of roads and 10,000 km of railways have been built or upgraded, and Chinese enterprises have created more than 1.1 million jobs across the continent. A zero‑tariff policy now covers 100 % of taxable items from the least‑developed African countries with diplomatic ties to China .
*Intra‑African connectivity* was a recurring theme. Ikenna Emewu, Editor‑in‑Chief of _Africa China Economy Magazine_, pointed out that FOCAC has fostered “intangible” links – transport corridors, digital infrastructure, aviation projects and energy inter‑connectors – that are quietly reshaping regional integration. Examples include the Addis Ababa‑Djibouti railway, the Zambia‑Tanzania‑Kenya power interconnector, and Chinese‑funded airports across Africa .
The summit also looked ahead. Consul‑General Yan called for a new “Six Principles” and “Ten Partnership Actions” to guide the next 25 years, while Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Janet Olisa, pledged to turn memoranda of understanding into actionable projects that deliver tangible benefits to Nigerians.
_The consensus was clear: FOCAC is not just a diplomatic milestone – it’s an evolving engine of shared prosperity for the Global South._
