Reform Momentum Continues
Despite its social, political and economic progress in the past 40 years, China is not treading water while gloating over these achievements. While celebrating the anniversary of its reform and opening up policy this year, it is evident that the pioneering spirit that was such an essential part of the last four decades burns even brighter today. Chinese President Xi Jinping has acknowledged that high quality development in the country’s future economy can only be guaranteed with greater openness. “This means China’s doors will never be closed. It will only open still wider,” said Xi. He made the remarks at the First China International Import Expo on November 5 in Shanghai. The first event of its kind in the world, the expo was the quintessential example of China following a new phase of opening up, widening its lucrative market even more, so that it is accessible to the world. This expo is an unequivocal nod to multilateralism.
In much the same vein, China’s Belt and Road Initiative and 12 free trade zones are an extension of the opening up mindset. When one considers that China has signed 118 Belt and Road cooperation agreements with 103 countries and international organizations and signed or upgraded five free-trade agreements with 13 countries along the routes, it drives home the commitment to reinforce world connectivity.
It’s a connectivity that is linked through goodwill and trade with Africa. Many parts of the continent are in a similar position to China when it began its reform and opening up, so there is a lot of experience and knowledge that can be shared.
Africa is currently embracing industrialization and it is no secret that China kick started its own reform process by specifically directing its efforts at rapid industrialization. This paved the way for the urbanization and rural transformation that followed. With the Belt and Road Initiative well placed to help drive industrialization in emerging nations across the globe, especially in Africa, vital infrastructure necessary on the continent is a plan to be pursued. China and Africa need each other in this new phase of opening up more than ever before. We are seeing Chinese enterprises increasingly setting up factories in Africa, which has a triple effect of providing jobs, adding value to goods for export and bringing the business operation closer to the market. However, Africa also needs to assess its own realities and set its own agenda in this process, something it is able to do with China’s non-interference policy into other countries’ internal affairs.
China’s reform and opening up has uplifted the nation, bringing concrete benefits not only to its own people, but the world at large, most notably in the area of poverty alleviation. With China’s plan to integrate the world in the face of mounting polarization, the next 40 years are sure to be as industrious as the last 40, as the country moves toward the realization of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.
Ca