Africa and the 40 years of China's reform

The successful practice of the Chinese people is a proof that there is more than one path leading to modernization. With the right direction and with unremitting efforts, all roads will take us to Rome. "- President Xi Jinping

At the turn of the 21st century, American political scientist Francis Fukuyama published a well-regarded book, the" End of History, "which attracted considerable attention. remarkable consensus on the legitimacy of liberal democracy as a system of governance had emerged around the world "and that" liberal democracy could constitute the end point of the ideological evolution of humanity and the final form of human government "and thus" constitute the end of history. "

But then China, little internationally known and open reform that was in full swing was progressing steadily. At the time, the euphoria of Fukuyama's "remarkable consensus on the legitimacy of liberal democracy", China's modernization effort to reform and open up was resolutely "socialist", with Chinese characteristics. "

The leader, Deng Xiaoping, who was convinced that" economic reform is the only way to develop the productive forces, "however categorically stated that" in the context of the reform, it is very . important for us to maintain our socialist orientation "[19659002Dansl'énormetâchede"meneràbiennotremodernisation"Dengaexhortéque"leprogrammedoitpartirdesréalitéschinoisesajoutantque"danslarévolutionetdanslaconstructionnousdevrionsapprendredespaysétrangersettirerpartideleurbadpériences"Lacopiemécaniqueetl'applicationdel'expérienceetdesmodèlesétrangersnenousmènerontnullepart"Iladoncdéclaréque"nousdevonsintégrerlavéritévéridiquedumarxismeaveclesréalitésconcrètesdelaChineflamboyerlavoiedelanôtreetconstruireunsocialismeavecdescaractéristiqueschinoises"etrésumerque'c'estlaconclusionfondamentalequenousavonsatteinteaprèsavoirpbadéenrevuenotrelongueexpériencehistorique"[19659002] years since China took the path that corresponded to its national realities, the myth of "remarkable consensus that liberal democracy is the end point of the ideological evolution of humanity" of Fukuyama and therefore the "end of history" exploded. "The successful practice of the Chinese people is proof that there is more than one path leading to modernization."

Although the opening and reform, according to President Xi Jinping, is a strategic decision made by China according to its needs for development as well as a concrete action taken by China to make advancing economic globalization in ways that benefit people around the world, lessons and experiences n Remaining in the arduous course of reform and openness are essential and strategic resources from which vital insights can inform the course of sustainable and inclusive development in Africa.

Africa's development trajectories have regularly suffered from hiccoughing courage or perseverance, but in the lack of understanding of the existential realities and specific conditions of each African country and the contradictions that it engenders, to from which it is possible to draw significant and realistic outlines and political ramifications. The main thrust of China's reform has been essentially to understand the gravity of its existential realities and national condition at a given moment, as well as the considerable efforts and efforts that must be made to engage it. And that this path of incessant engagement with contradictions does not admit complacency, laxity or even momentary relaxation.

Forty years of incessant reform and opening up in China have amply and very clearly demonstrated the prospects of human capacity to transform its conditions. despite the severity of its challenges and, it speaks boldly to the possibilities of Africa and the difficult choices that she must decide to make by herself. Despite this, the experience of China is not repeatable;

In his widely acclaimed monograph, published in 2004, "The Beijing Consensus," Joshua Cooper Ramo noted that "China is charting a course for the other nations of the world that are trying to understand not just how to develop their countries, but also how to integrate them in the international order so as to allow them to be truly independent, to protect their way of life and their political choice. "Ramo who claimed to have discovered a" new physics of "Beijing Consensus", which he opposed to Washington's "widely discredited consensus", an economic theory made famous in the 1990s for its prescriptive, Washington-know-best approach ". "The Washington Consensus" was a characteristic of the arrogance of the end of history, which left a trail of destroyed economies and bad feelings around the globe. "

Noting that" China's path to development and power is, of course, no other nation can repeat "the main lesson of" using the economy and governance to improve society "Will end up resonating and making impressions in Africa

Forty years ago, few Nigerians and Africans can tell where and what is Guangzhou, now the famous commercial city and capital of Guangdong Coast Province in China, a business center where most Nigerians and their African peers flock to lucrative businesses. In fact, 40 years ago, Aba and Kaduna in Nigeria, to name but a few examples in Africa, were the hub of the leather and textile trade in West Africa and were in the process 39, integrate into the very important global industrial value chain. country an important niche in world affairs. But not anymore. Guangzhou flourished and climbed up to an international shopping center while Kaduna and Aba are currently littered with rusty and long-abandoned industrial machinery, but that they can surely come back up.

Revolution and national liberation in 1949 re-shaped the modern Chinese state, giving the Chinese people an exclusive prerogative for the first time in their long history of deciding their fate. They did it but 1978 was the moment of significant national introspection, difficult choices and bold decisions.

The leadership of the ruling party, the CCP made the decision to move away from the comfort zone of easy revolutionary rhetoric. task, launched the reform and opening and traveled on the difficult terrain of "groping the river by smelling the stones."

Africa and its different countries make the difficult choice to move away from the comfort zone, foreign political systems, orthodox economic models that have it nowhere, and started the difficult task of tirelessly questioning one's own realities and extracting one's results by forging institutional and political frameworks and drawing valid lessons from the Chinese maxim. the only criterion of truth. "

Aba, Kaduna and Other Many Cities, Potential Industrial Outposts Africa will recover if Africa seeks renaissance and reforms rooted in its own realities and added to a partnership An unprecedented international of a mbadively regenerated China, eager and able to engage Africa successfully and respectably, the continent's famous potentials are on the verge of effective realization.

• Onunaiju, is director of the China Studies Center (CCS) Abuja.