The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC): Benefits for Zambia

By VIOLET MENGO

Beijing, China

THE Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 2025 meeting starts on June 10, 2025 in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the FOCAC.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will also attend the opening ceremony of the Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo.

 For Zambia, the Minister of Commerce Trade and Industry  Chipoka Mulenga is expected to attend the  2025 FOCAC.

FOCAC is a pivotal platform for diplomatic and economic engagement between China and African nations.

The FOCAC Beijing Summit was successfully held in September last year. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the summit and delivered a keynote speech. China and Africa reached extensive common understandings on joining hands to advance modernization and building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

Established on October 2000, in Beijing, China, as a multilateral platform to strengthen diplomatic, economic and developmental ties between China and African nations, FOCAC aims to strengthen cooperation through dialogue, trade, investment and infrastructure development.

Since its inception, FOCAC has become a key mechanism for fostering Sino-African relations, promoting trade, investment and infrastructure development.

FOCAC was officially launched during the first Ministerial Conference held in Beijing from October 10–12, 2000.

Representatives from 44 African countries and Chinese leaders attended, setting the foundation for structured cooperation.

Since then, FOCAC summits have been held every three years, alternating between China and Africa. 

It operates under several core objectives including enhancing political cooperation where high-level diplomatic exchanges, promoting mutual understanding and policy alignment between China and African nations is fostered. 

The cooperation also boosts trade and investment where the forum encourages Chinese investments in Africa while facilitating African exports to China through tariff reductions and trade agreements. 

Infrastructure development is a major focus of FOCAC and the focus is on financing and constructing of roads, railways, ports and energy projects to drive economic growth. 

China supports African nations in developing manufacturing and processing industries to reduce reliance on raw material exports through industrialisation and job creation.

FOCAC has promoted education, healthcare and skills training through scholarships, medical missions and technology transfers in its social and human development objective.  

To ensure sustainable development, China collaborates with African countries on green energy projects, climate resilience and environmental protection. 

The reasons for the formation of FOCAC was to strengthen Diplomatic and Political ties. China sought to expand its global influence by deepening relations with Africa, a continent with significant geopolitical importance.

By establishing FOCAC, China aimed to counter western dominance: At the time, Western nations held considerable economic and political sway in Africa.

FOCAC provided an alternative partnership model based on mutual respect and "win-win" cooperation. 

Both China and African nations belonged to the Global South and FOCAC became a platform for collective bargaining in international affairs. 

China’s rapid industrialisation in the late 20th century created a demand for raw materials, which Africa possessed in abundance. FOCAC facilitated. 

African countries like Zambia (copper), Angola (oil), and the DRC (cobalt) became key suppliers for China’s growing economy. 

Before FOCAC, China-African trade was relatively small. The forum helped formalise trade agreements, leading to exponential growth—trade surged from $10 billion in 2000 to over $200 billion by 2023. 

Many African nations lacked adequate infrastructure, hindering economic growth. China, with its expertise in large-scale construction, used FOCAC to finance and build critical projects such as roads, railways, ports and energy plants through Chinese loans and grants. 

For enhanced regional connectivity, projects like the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) and Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway improved intra-African trade.

African economies were (and still are) heavily reliant on raw material exports. FOCAC was designed to encourage value addition. China invested in manufacturing and processing plants in Africa, such as Zambia’s copper refineries. 

FOCAC was established to transfer technology and skills through training programs and industrial parks which have been established to boost local expertise. 

China used FOCAC to position itself as a reliable partner, contrasting with Western conditional aid. Its key strategies included debt relief and grants. Unlike traditional lenders, China offered flexible financing terms.

China offered humanitarian aid where medical teams, scholarships and disaster relief improved China’s image in Africa. 

Zambia, as one of Africa’s key partners with China, has significantly benefited from FOCAC initiatives, particularly in infrastructure, mining, agriculture, and social development. 

The country has been an active participant in FOCAC since its inception. The country’s strategic location and rich mineral resources make it a key partner for China in Southern Africa.

Over the years, Zambia has secured numerous investments and development projects under FOCAC frameworks. 

One of Zambia’s most significant gains from FOCAC has been infrastructure modernisation. Chinese-funded projects under infrastructure development are roads and bridges.

The Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway, the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport expansion and the Kafue Hook Bridge have improved connectivity and trade. 

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), though initially built in the 1970s, has seen rehabilitation support from China to enhance regional trade. 

The Kafue Gorge Lower Hydropower Station, financed by China, has boosted Zambia’s electricity generation capacity under the energy projects.

In the mining and economic diversification, Zambia’s economy heavily relies on copper mining and Chinese investments have revitalized the sector.

Companies like China Non-Ferrous Metals Mining Corporation (CNMC) operate mines in Zambia, providing jobs and technology transfers.

Additionally, FOCAC has encouraged value addition in mining, with Chinese firms investing in copper processing plants to reduce raw mineral exports. 

Through FOCAC, Zambia has benefited from agricultural modernisation initiatives to ensure food security. China has provided farming technology through training programs and machinery to improve productivity. 

The establishment of agricultural parks, such as the China-Zambia Agricultural Demonstration Centre, has enhanced crop yields and agribusiness opportunities.

In the education sector and Skills Development, FOCAC has facilitated educational exchanges, with thousands of Zambian students receiving scholarships to study in China.

Additionally, vocational training centres, such as the Zambia-China Vocational College, equip Zambians with technical skills in engineering, Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), and manufacturing. 

China has been instrumental in improving Zambia’s healthcare system through medical teams where Chinese doctors regularly work in Zambian hospitals, offering specialised care. 

The construction of the Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital in Lusaka was supported by China.  During COVID-19, China donated vaccines and medical supplies to Zambia for pandemic response.

Under FOCAC, Zambia has seen increased trade with China, exporting copper, tobacco and gemstones while importing machinery and electronics.

The Zambia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, established in 2007 hosts over 60 companies and has created thousands of jobs. 

Despite the benefits, some concerns remain, including debt sustainability and ensuring that investments align with Zambia’s long-term development goals.

Moving forward, Zambia must negotiate favourable terms under FOCAC to maximise gains in industrialisation, job creation and technology transfer. 

FOCAC has played a transformative role in Zambia’s development, particularly in infrastructure, mining, agriculture and social services.

While challenges persist, the partnership continues to offer immense opportunities for economic growth and regional integration.

With strategic planning, Zambia can further leverage FOCAC to achieve sustainable development and prosperity. 

Over two decades later, FOCAC remains a cornerstone of China-Africa relations, driving development projects across the continent—including Zambia’s infrastructure boom and industrial growth.

While debates over debt sustainability persist, FOCAC’s role in reshaping Africa’s economic landscape is undeniable.