Xi's visit to Africa prepares to exploit more potential

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Africa, which will begin July 19 and last until July 28, has been seen as an important opportunity to implement agreements with the continent that can lead to transformation. major.

African development experts welcomed this decision, which is a step in the right direction as it builds on previous agreements between the two partners and is therefore a demonstration of a mutually beneficial partnership. growing and sustainable.

The sides turned around the issues of trade, energy, science and technology, but this visit will focus on the big four: trade, investment, infrastructure and defense.

This visit will see the president of the second largest economy visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Senegal, Rwanda, South Africa and Mauritius.

Mauritius has particularly special ties with China. Mauritius is the first African country to have started free trade negotiations with China.

In South Africa, President Xi will attend the 10th BRICS Summit, the sixth consecutive meeting. One of the main goals of the next summit is to develop strategic partnerships to accelerate the progress of the "fourth industrial revolution".

China and Africa focus on trade, investment, infrastructure and defense. partner like China, could be on the threshold of an economic renaissance.

A growing number of African countries are exploring the continent's huge but untapped blue economy to address its critical development challenges.

The blue economy involves the exploitation of resources such as oceans, lakes and rivers in the African Agenda 2063 for socio-economic transformation. China has taken the initiative to promote a respectful cooperation of the sea and can offer Africa the support necessary to exploit its blue world.

Although 70% of African countries have coastlines or are islands, African-owned vessels account for less than 80% of world trade in the world. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, volume and 70% in value are transported by sea. Of this total, 60% by volume of maritime trade is transiting through Asia. The South China Sea transports about 33% of the world's shipping.

Africa can draw many lessons from maritime trade in China because most of the trade of the East Asian nation is transported by sea. China is already laying the groundwork for Africa to explore its blue world through the Belt and Road initiative. This is the signature of President Xi's investment initiative. It is a megaproject whose main objective is to boost infrastructure, transportation, energy and trade.

In the new context of the blue economy, the project provides for the strategic construction of railways and sea lanes connecting 70 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and other parts of the world. # 39; Oceania. With this initiative, China has proposed blueprints for three passages of the blue economy based on the ocean.

Senegal, Rwanda, South Africa and Mauritius are among the champions of the blue economy in Africa. Research shows that Operation Phakisa, a South African initiative aimed at unlocking the economic potential of the continent's oceans, is expected to create 1 million new jobs by 2033 and add about $ 13 billion to the economy. The economy of the country.

Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Egypt are among the African countries that will benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative. Kenya enjoys the benefits of China's standard railroad linking the port city of Mombasa with its capital city.

Maritime trade cooperation between the two partners can also solve the ongoing energy problems that Africa faces. According to the International Energy Agency, the renewable energy of the oceans can provide up to 400% of the current global energy demand.

The number of African students, including young politicians accessing education and training in China, has increased. In 2016, the number of scholarships in Beijing for young African politicians has increased from 200 to 1,000 per year.

As many African leaders struggle with the modern socio-economic challenges of governing their rapidly growing population, much could be learned. President Xi governs about 1.3 billion people.

Speaking of defense, the link between peace and development has never been clearer. In 2015, Beijing promised to provide $ 100 million worth of free military aid to the African Union over the next five years.

China's first overseas support base has recently become operational in Djibouti, demonstrating how much progress has been made in relations with Africa.

The author is a journalist based in Kenya. [email protected]