Economic diplomacy as a proactive tool to advance African agency within FOCAC

Abstract

The institutionalisation of China-Africa relations under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which was formally established in the year 2000 in Beijing, took place within the context of emerging South to South engagement. FOCAC’s reputation as China-Africa’s key multilateral platform, is premised on the objectives of achieving a mutual partnership and win-win cooperation through dialogue. The Forum has undoubtedly served Africa’s economic profile well, especially in areas such as infrastructural development and exponential trade growth. However, growing concerns around Africa’s inability to fully maximise the opportunities extended by FOCAC’s framework, continue to leave room for scepticism over China’s development commitments to the continent. From a review of literature on the evolution of China-Africa relations, the study identified the absence of an Africa-China policy as a major gap contributing to Africa’s difficulty in articulating what it expects from its external partner, China. So as to advise how Africa can better exercise agency towards China, and fill in the research gap, the following main research question is used to guide the study: what is the level at which economic diplomacy creates opportunities for Africa to benefit of its relationship with China? After critical analyses were deduced from the terms ‘economic diplomacy’ and ‘agency’, the study subsequently relied on primary sources such as key FOCAC documents, dignitary speeches and plans of action to examine how far Africa’s agency has been exerted within the Forum since it was launched. Out of these facts and figures, a number of positive observations were made. For instance, a several policy objectives based on the AU’s agenda 2063 were adopted within FOCAC. However, these strengths are challenged by other structural factors, such as the hesitancy by some individual African governments that are unreceptive of the AU’s role as the continent’s main bridge of communication with China, in the Forum. As a result thereof, these countries have been working with the superpower bilaterally on the side; derailing from the Forum’s multilateral scope. The study affirmed that African actors at the FOCAC negotiation table have indeed been able to influence decision-making on the receiving end of their economic relationship with China, but only to the extent that their Chinese partners have allowed this to happen. As one of the measures proposed to enhance this African agency, more transparency regarding the flow of financial aid from China to Africa was encouraged.