Chinese President Xi Jinping walks out at the end of the opening session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, March 4, 2025.
China has concluded its biggest annual political meetings, dubbed the “Two Sessions” (Lianghui), with their policies expected to shape the future of the world’s second superpower and that of global relations, including Africa.
While the twin meetings of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National People's Congress (NPC), held on March 4-6, 2025 in Beijing, primarily focused on China’s domestic issues, with China contributing over 30 per cent of the global economy, its ramifications are on a global scale.
With China as Africa’s top development partner, who have huge investments in infrastructure, trade, and provision of loans and concessional assistance, the meetings could spur increased trade, infrastructure development, economic growth and modernization across the continent.
Pessimism was up in air as the Two Sessions unfolded against what the World Bank described in October last year as “structural slowdown” in China’s economy despite Beijing meeting its target of around 5 per cent in 2024 with the fourth-quarter GDP even exceeding expectations at 5.4 per cent.
However, this growth is a pale shadow of China’s GDP growth after it embarked on opening up and reforming its economy in 1978, which averaged over 9 per cent a year, enabling the country to lift over 800 million people out of poverty and to eradicate extreme poverty by 2020. As such, the outcomes of the Sessions reflect China’s optimism and confidence in the face of global uncertainty and turbulence. During the meeting, China outlined its key economic priorities, including a 5 per cent GDP growth target, technological and industrial expansion, and deeper global engagement in trade, investments and governance.
With China as Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years and the value of China-Africa trade reaching US$262 billion by 2023, the growth of China's GDP by 5 per cent will have a positive knock-on effect and a significant impact on African economies.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the sessions, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted the major trade-related events which China will host in 2025 to attract foreign investments. These include the International Import and Export Fair, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, the Global Digital Trade Expo, the China International Consumer Products Expo, the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in June 2025 and the 3rd China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in July 2025. Besides introducing fiscal stimulus and private sector support to boost growth and consumption, China will also launch landmark investment projects and provide better services and support to foreign investors, thus positioning itself as a favoured destination for foreign investments.
The two sessions impact Africa in four areas.
First is China’s support for Africa's independent path to modernisation, away from the Western model of modernisation, as the surest way for the continent to develop and lift its people out of poverty. Wang, who has visited or held consultations with top officials of over 10 African countries in the January-February 2025 period, hailed Africa as a “fertile land of hope” of the 21st century. “There will be no global modernisation without African modernisation,” he said. Africa’s stability and development are vital to the very future of humanity, Wang said. Wang, who visited the Sahel region in January, noted that Africa is going through a new awakening, calling on the world to listen and heed the continent’s concerns and to support it in exploring a new development path.
Second, the Two Sessions, which discussed China’s Five-Year Plans, exemplifying strategic, carry hugely important lessons of China’s model of long-term development. African countries, for long, burdened by short-term political considerations, can adopt China’s approach which offers valuable lessons in stability, long-term planning, and infrastructure development. China’s greatest strength is its political stability, provided by the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which enables long-term planning for development.
Also frequently discussed during the Two Sessions was infrastructure development, the hallmark of China’s economic success. High-speed rail, modern airports, and major urban projects have boosted connectivity and global trade. For African nations facing severe infrastructure deficits, China provides a useful model which could enhance economic growth, job creation, trade and investment.
Third, the two sessions signalled a shift to opportunities in technology. Africa has to focus on value-added industries, shifting away from exporting under-valued raw exports. Chinese companies are investing in industrialisation, energy, and digital transformation across Africa, generating foreign direct investment, and expanding trade, tourism and agricultural manufacturing.
As China advances in many technological fields, it must transfer technology to Africa. Africa should invest in digital technology and expand the digital economy to create jobs and opportunities for its growing youth cluster, up the largest percentage of the continent’s population. Investing in technology and innovation will drive the future economic expansion.
Africa should also leverage technological advancements to empower agricultural development and rural revitalisation in line with President Xi Jinping’s clarion call for rural revitalisation to achieve common prosperity and a moderately prosperous society.
Technological innovation is pivotal to China-Africa cooperation in agricultural strategy. From precision farming and drone technology to AI-driven pest control and climate-resilient crops, technology boosts efficiency and resilience.
Lastly, China is championing the role of Africa in the rising Global South and global governance. With over 40 per cent of world’s GDP and contributions as high as 80 per cent of world growth recorded, the Global South is a key force for maintaining world peace, driving global development and growth. They stand together in unity, and strive for development.
Africa’s influence in the global South id growing. During its 2023 summit, the African Union joined the G20 as the club’s 21st member, and officially represented at the November 2024 G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. China is supporting South Africa to meet its responsibilities as the holder of the G20 Presidency, from December 1, 2024 to November 30, 2025, which signals its growing global influence.
Professor Peter Kagwanja is a consultant and Government Adviser and Chief Executive of the Africa Policy Institute (API).
