As FOCAC marks its 25th anniversary, the Beijing Action Plan (2025–2027) has set an ambitious course for deeper China-Africa cooperation. In just one year, new investments and partnerships are translating commitments into community impact.
Small and beautiful: Local wins, big difference
A buzz around “small and beautiful” projects has emerged. These hyperlocal initiatives are delivering rapid, tangible benefits, balancing out mega infrastructure programs. As Charles Onunaiju puts it:
“Africa needs large-scale mega projects. But only focusing on large-scale projects is not enough. Large-scale projects plus small and beautiful projects, they are like two legs. Before, we only had one leg, jumping. Now we have another leg. We walk very balancedly.”
One standout example is a vocational training school in Zambia. Local youth progress from classroom learning to hands-on workshops, then internships with Chinese telecom companies. This end-to-end chain—from education to employment—embodies the “small and beautiful” ethos.
Visible progress in key areas
- Value-added industrialization: African nations are shifting from raw material exports to higher-value roles in global supply chains.
- Economic corridors: Upgrades to transport links like the TAZARA Railway are boosting trade and agriculture along the route.
- Workforce development: Vocational schools and remote learning centers are equipping youth with skills for tomorrow’s jobs.
Leveraging momentum
Experts agree that Africa’s leaders must take a proactive role. Charles Onunaiju urges policy engagement and clear visions of modernization—one that prioritizes people’s well-being over skyscrapers:
“Modernization is not skyscrapers. Modernization is the well-being of your people. We must create the material condition to enable our culture and spiritual well-being to flourish.”
The way forward
The Beijing Action Plan offers a roadmap, but its success hinges on mutual effort. As Onunaiju says, “One hand does not clap. China means what it says and says what it means and is determined to meet Africa halfway. I wish to urge our African brothers to work their part so that the national action plan can deliver, can scale up.”
Reference(s):
FOCAC at 25: Charting the future under the Beijing Action Plan
cgtn.com
