Advancing the Modernization Drive of the Global South and Working Together to Build a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind

Wang Heng

The 13th Meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum took place in Dar es Salaam， Tanzania， on March 8， 2024. Under the theme of “China-African Practice： Building a Community with a Shared Future”， the forum delved into the major concerns and strategic cooperation between China and Africa in the new era. It aimed to advance the implementation of various initiatives and accomplishments in China-Africa cooperation while also gathering insights for the upcoming session of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation （FOCAC）. During the forum， the “China-Africa Dar es Salaam Consensus”， also known as “The Consensus of the China-Africa Think Tank on Deepening Global Development Cooperation”， was unveiled. It urged the international community to deepen development cooperation grounded in principles of mutual respect， unity， openness， win-win collaboration， and common prosperity. This call to action seeks to foster knowledge exchange， intellectual discourse， and cultural enrichment on a global scale.

Urgent Need for More Shared Ideas Within the International Community to Address Unprecedented Changes

Both Chinese and African scholars assert that the world is currently encountering challenges yet also holds prospects for peace and development. China and Africa are undergoing a new awakening in thinking and knowledge innovation. In this context， it is imperative to contribute greater wisdom and foster broader consensus in the realm of knowledge and ideas， as human society requires increased mutual interdependence to navigate shared challenges and opportunities. As significant members of the Global South， both China and Africa bear the historical mission of development and rejuvenation for the benefit of their people. Therefore， they take proactive roles in global governance to propel all countries forward in their pursuit of modernization and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind. The China-Africa Think Tanks Forum， serves as a major sub-forum of FOCAC， issued the consensus which encapsulates the wisdom and knowledge generated by more than 5，000 scholars from nearly 60 countries during face-to-face interactions over the past 15 years. Since 2010， through the collaborative efforts of the Chinese Follow-up Committee of FOCAC， the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum has evolved over 15 years， hosting 13 think tank conferences and the first China-Africa Media & Think Tank Symposium， along with other international academic exchanges.

The China-Africa Think Tanks Forum was incorporated into the framework of FOCAC in 2012， marked by its first conference held in Ethiopia in collaboration with African think tanks. In 2013， the forum proposed the implementation of the China-Africa Think Tank 10+10 Partnership Plan and issued an initiative. Subsequently， the forum partnered with South African think tanks and held a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Africa in 2015. In 2016， the forums scale reached a new high with the establishment of an economic and trade sub-forum and the holding of the first China-Africa Media & Think Tank Symposium. In 2017， the China-Africa High-Level Dialogue and Think Tank Forum on Fighting Against Poverty for Common Prosperity took place at the African Union Headquarters. During this event， English and French editions of Chinese President Xi Jinpings book on poverty alleviation， Up and Out of Poverty， were launched. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi， along with African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat， graced the occasion with their presence. After more than a decade of development， the forum has emerged as an institutionalized platform for dialogue and exchange among China-Africa diplomatic circles， academia， think tanks， business circles， and media entities.

Extensive Content of the China-Africa Dar es Salaam Consensus

Guided by the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind， the consensus delved into a comprehensive discussion of the major issues and challenges facing the world today， proposing common solutions.

Firstly， we advocate prioritizing development and exploring a people-centered development trajectory characterized by independence， mutual respect， and mutual learning. We champion universal values such as peace， development， fairness， justice， democracy， and freedom for all humankind， implementing the Global Development Initiative. We support countries exploring their own paths toward modernization based on their unique cultures and development needs， fostering dialogue rather than clashes among civilizations， and facilitating the exchange of governance experiences. We are committed to ensuring that our development serves the interests of the people and is driven by their participation， with the benefits of development shared equitably among all， thereby safeguarding everyones right to pursue a better life.

Secondly， we advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world to foster shared development. We aim to accelerate the democratization of international relations， enhance the representation and influence of developing countries within the international system， and promptly rectify the historical injustices endured by Africa. We uphold and safeguard each nations sovereignty， territorial integrity， and right to development. Furthermore， we will collaboratively optimize global resource distribution， address development disparities both among and within countries， and ensure that all countries， regardless of their size， capabilities， or wealth， have access to equitable development opportunities.

Thirdly， we advocate the advancement of a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization to share the benefits of development equitably. We are dedicated to enhancing global economic governance， eliminating trade and economic barriers， and fostering a more resilient， inclusive， seamless， and efficient global supply chain. We believe in and support the utilization of comparative advantages by countries within and beyond Africa， promoting further industrialization and agricultural modernization， fostering enhanced participation in the international division of labor， and making positive contributions to promoting global economic circulation， global economic growth， and the well-being of all people.

Fourthly， we advocate actively promoting reform of the international financial system to bridge the development gap. We agree to augment capital for multilateral development banks， such as the World Bank， in order to enhance their financial standing and bolster their financing capabilities. In addition， we pledge to provide more support for poverty reduction and development through financing mechanisms that respect the policies， philosophies， and actual needs of all involved parties. In adherence to the principle of fairness， we will increase the shareholding and voting rights of emerging markets and developing countries in the International Monetary Fund. We will also establish a third executive director seat for African countries and fully consider the interests of the least developed countries in Special Drawing Rights allocations.

Fifthly， we advocate alignment with international initiatives and national plans to reinforce high-quality sustainable development bonds. Within the frameworks of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development， the African Unions Agenda 2063， the Belt and Road Initiative （BRI）， and others， we are committed to enhancing infrastructure connectivity and facilitating the free flow of production factors in accordance with each countrys national strategies. We also promote the advancement of clean energy， information technology， aerospace， and other high-tech industries. In addition， we adhere to the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” in addressing climate change and fostering green development.

Sixthly， we advocate invigorating domestic development through effective markets and proactive governments. We support the advancement of efficient， transparent， and law-based governance， optimizing macroeconomic regulation and public services to invigorate market dynamism. In addition， we facilitate the industrialization and modernization of agriculture in Africa. Countries should enhance economic policy coordination and harmonization of disparate regulatory standards and further liberalize and facilitate trade and investment processes. They should also safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises， as well as guide and encourage new financing models such as public-private partnerships， investment-construction-operation integration， and coordinated loan-investment schemes to enhance liquidity and the efficiency of fund utilization.

Seventhly， we advocate the consideration of both traditional and non-traditional security threats to establish a secure development environment. We acknowledge the legitimate security concerns of all countries and commit to resolving conflicts through dialogue and consultation. We also endeavor to prevent wars， conflicts， terrorism， diseases， or the pan-securitization “trap” that impede development. Moreover， we believe that the implementation of the Global Security Initiative would contribute to fostering peace and security worldwide. Collectively， we urge the international community to resolve conflicts through rational and peaceful means and to prioritize the alleviation of the suffering endured by those affected by conflicts. Regarding financial crises， we support efforts to strengthen economic and financial security cooperation， open stable and seamless international settlement channels， and expand bilateral currency settlement and diverse foreign exchange reserves. Furthermore， we will explore the establishment of a fair and impartial international credit rating agency within the framework of FOCAC， BRICS， and other collaborative mechanisms.

Eighthly， we advocate the encouragement of the adoption of more practical and effective measures to promote knowledge sharing. We jointly champion the implementation of the Global Civilization Initiative and the deepening of exchanges and mutual learning between China and Africa. To this end， we propose and support the establishment of a think tank alliance network and the enhancement of exchanges and cooperation among media and think tanks. We endeavor to foster the high-quality development of the China-Africa Consortium of Universities Exchange Mechanism， enhancing exchanges in education， science and technology， healthcare， culture， and the arts. Additionally， we will implement the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development to nurture highly skilled human resources， deepen exchanges and cooperation within the Global South， and amplify our collective voice in global affairs.

The Significance of the China-Africa Dares Salaam Consensus

Five scholars from China， South Sudan， Senegal， Tanzania， and Morocco issued the consensus in Chinese， English， French， Swahili， and Arabic， respectively， at the closing ceremony of the 13th Meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum. Chinas mainstream media， including CCTV， Peoples Daily， China Global Television Network， Xinhua News Agency， Guangming Daily， and China Daily， as well as approximately thirty African mainstream media outlets， such as Nigerias The Guardian， Tanzanias Mwananchi， Union des Comoross Al-watwan， and the Zanzibar Mail conducted extensive and in-depth reporting. In addition， many African media outlets， including Senegals Le Soleil， the Cameroon Tribune， and Burkina Fasos Tinganews， have published the full text of the consensus. Mainstream media and social platforms in many countries have interpreted or reported on the consensus， receiving positive responses from the international community.

At a regular press conference on March 11， Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated that the consensus proposed countries uphold a people-centered development approach and create a sound institutional environment， enabling everyone to pursue a better life. It emphasized choosing dialogue over conflicts among different civilizations while respecting the history， culture， traditions， and basic national conditions of each country. Additionally， it supported countries in pursuing a modernization path tailored to their development needs and cultural distinctiveness. We support the suggestions put forward in the Africa-China Dar es Salaam Consensus. China firmly believes that the Global South， including China and Africa， has the right to share the benefits of economic globalization and have access to the opportunities to accelerate self-driven development. The Global South should leverage efficient markets and effective governance and enhance the division of labor in the international industrial chain. It should also foster more resilient global industrial and supply chains. Through this process， industries can be upgraded and industrial structures improved. This year marks a significant milestone for China-Africa cooperation. China is prepared to collaborate with Africa to build an equal and orderly multipolar world. Together， we aim to invigorate and empower global economic growth through universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. We also aim to advance trade and investment liberalization and facilitation and advocate for reform of the international financial system. Moreover， we aim to increase the representation and amplify the voices of developing countries， open new avenues for China-Africa mutual development， and write a new chapter in building a China-Africa community with a shared future.

In interviews with mainstream media from various countries， Justin Yifu Lin， the dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics at Peking University， emphasized that the consensus represents the shared aspiration of Global South nations. It also serves as a guide for enhancing South-South cooperation. He also urged African countries to have confidence in their development journey and to take control of shaping their destinies. With abundant natural resources at their disposal， they have the potential to strengthen their infrastructure development， facilitate trade， oppose trade barriers， and promote globalization by participating in multilateral interactive market frameworks.

Prof. Gabriel Yebe from Omar Bongo University of Gabon highlighted at the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum that the history of international relations over the past 20 years demonstrates that the China-Africa cooperation in the new era is a form of cooperation that aims to align with the new African vision. The BRI offers the possibility of global common development， and Africas advantages should position Africans to play a significant role in future negotiations between Africa and China.

Tanzanias Daily News remarked that for African countries to achieve lasting peace and independent development， they must first unite and establish a common position and consensus on development. This would enable them to resolve internal issues and forestall future conflicts. China has consistently supported African countries， advocating for their rights and interests and ensuring Africas representation and voice in the international arena. It has also consistently promoted Africas true spiritual independence， assisted Africa in enhancing its capacity for independent development， and accelerated Africas modernization efforts. Therefore， African countries should strive to implement all resolutions agreed upon in the China-Africa Dar es Salaam Consensus. They should fully utilize the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum to strengthen their relations with China and enhance cooperation across various sectors， aiming to draw lessons from Chinas successes and experiences.

In a commentary， Union des Comoross Al-Watwan highlighted that the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum offers crucial guidance and principles for human development， covering topics such as promoting global multipolarity， reforming international finance， fostering endogenous development， and enhancing global security and knowledge sharing. It also has a lasting impact on strengthening China-Africa cooperation and global development collaboration. Currently， amid the accelerated shift towards global multipolarity and profound adjustments in the international landscape， the various measures outlined in the China-Africa Dar es Salaam Consensus usher in a new form of globalization mainly promoted and guided by the forces of the Global South.

In another commentary， Burkina Fasos Tinganews noted that the convergence of ideas at the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum bridges existing gaps in concepts， values， and experiences. This fosters a better understanding between Chinese and Africans regarding economic policies， development strategies， and national and regional development frameworks. It also enables them to seek collective solutions and strategies to address underlying challenges. Strengthening think tank cooperation can foster mutual understanding between China and African countries， eliminate stereotypes， and mitigate misunderstandings. It can also further enhance the benefits of China-Africa cooperation and ultimately serve as a complementary force in supporting the planning and implementation of future friendly cooperation programs between Chinese and African governments.

Liu Hongwu， Director of the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University， emphasized that the consensus serves as both a manifesto and an action plan for the academic and intellectual communities of China and Africa in the new era. As a product of theoretical innovation and knowledge creation jointly created by China and Africa， it is poised to effectively promote and guide the new process of modernization in the Global South， leaving an indelible mark on the history of contemporary Chinese and African intellectual exchange.

In the face of unprecedented global changes， humanity now more than ever needs to share ideas and progress collectively. Chinese and African scholars concur that the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum has achieved positive and remarkable results in bridging Chinese and African ideas， values， and practices. Strengthening media exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and African think tanks will further promote mutual understanding and common development between the two sides. In pursuit of this objective， the forum issued the “Initiative for the Establishment of the China-Africa Think Tank Cooperation Network，” which encompasses ten areas. These areas include educational cooperation， academic exchanges， partnership development， mutual appreciation of each others civilization and culture， enhancing cooperation with the private sector， implementing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for collaborative actions， and facilitating communication channels， among others. The initiative calls upon Chinese and African think tank scholars to provide stronger intellectual support for China-Africa high-quality development cooperation and the establishment of a high-level community with a shared future.

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Wang Heng is Deputy Director of the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University