Focusing on New Dimensions of Growth and Ushering in a New Stage for China-Africa Cooperation

Ambassador-designate Chen Xiaodong describes a shift in China-Africa relations from government-led assistance to market-driven investment and trade. He highlights China's role as Africa's largest trading partner and a primary financier of infrastructure, while proposing new cooperation in the 'Fourth Industrial Revolution' and digital infrastructure. The speech also addresses COVID-19 support, debt relief for African nations, and a rejection of 'debt trap' narratives.

• China-Africa cooperation is transitioning from government-led assistance toward market-driven trade and investment, moving from general merchandise trade to production capacity and processing trade.
• China has been Africa's largest trading partner for 11 consecutive years, with two-way trade reaching $208.7 billion in 2019, which is 20 times the volume recorded in 2000.
• China's direct investment stock in Africa is $110 billion, with over 3,700 Chinese companies operating there. Specifically in South Africa, investment has exceeded $25 billion and created more than 400,000 local jobs.
• China is a primary financier and contractor for African infrastructure, having built over 10,000 km of roads, 6,000 km of railways, 80 power plants, and 200 schools. The Mombasa–Nairobi Railway alone increased Kenya's economic growth by approximately 1.5% and created nearly 50,000 jobs.
• China is expanding cooperation in the 'Fourth Industrial Revolution' and digital economy, noting that Huawei and ZTE have built 80% of Africa's backbone network infrastructure. Future priorities include 5G, big data centers, artificial intelligence, and ultra-high voltage power transmission.
• In response to COVID-19, China pledged to start construction of the Africa CDC headquarters in 2020 and promised that African countries would be among the first to benefit from Chinese vaccines. Additionally, China cancelled interest-free government loans for relevant African countries due by the end of 2020.

APA

Xiaodong, C. (n.d.). Focusing on New Dimensions of Growth and Ushering in a New Stage for China-Africa Cooperation. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Keynote-Speech-by-H.E.-Ambassador-designate-Chen-Xiaodong-of-China-to-South-Africa-1.pdf

Chicago

Xiaodong, Chen. Focusing on New Dimensions of Growth and Ushering in a New Stage for China-Africa Cooperation. South African Institute of International Affairs, n.d. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Keynote-Speech-by-H.E.-Ambassador-designate-Chen-Xiaodong-of-China-to-South-Africa-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Xiaodong |first1=Chen |title=Focusing on New Dimensions of Growth and Ushering in a New Stage for China-Africa Cooperation |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Keynote-Speech-by-H.E.-Ambassador-designate-Chen-Xiaodong-of-China-to-South-Africa-1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{xiaodongndfocusing, author = {Xiaodong, Chen}, title = {{Focusing on New Dimensions of Growth and Ushering in a New Stage for China-Africa Cooperation}}, publisher = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Keynote-Speech-by-H.E.-Ambassador-designate-Chen-Xiaodong-of-China-to-South-Africa-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }