Both China and Africa benefit from the 10 major plans

The 2018 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is set to get underway on September 3rd in Beijing, marking its 18th anniversary.

The event in Beijing represents - among other things - the 3-year anniversary of Chinese President Xi Jinping proposing the "10 major China-Africa cooperation plans."

Addressing the FOCAC session in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward his "10 major plans" proposal, suggesting China and Africa should be combining their strengths through mutual development.

Director of the Angola-China Chamber of Commerce, Arnaldo Calado, says the "ten major plans" initiative is helping countries like Angola take their next step forward in development.

"It's always important to grow all together, get up all. If one country up one country down, it's not good. This is the vision from China. China's help to Africa is to help all," says Calado.

Chinese vice-Commerce Minister Qian Keming says in the 3-years since Xi Jinping put forward the proposal, "10 major plans" has created a new avenue for Chinese firms into Africa, which are - in turn - creating new opportunities for people across the continent.

"Chinese products, technology, services and standards are arriving in Africa at a faster pace. Chinese companies' operational excellence has been improving and the Chinese yuan has sped up its internationalization process, creating a steady underpinning in the development of China. But it also means that both China and Africa are benefitting from this," says Qian.

Beyond corporate investments, the Chinese government is also putting an emphasis on social development in Africa.

Liberian deputy-Minister of Economic Management, Augustus Flomo, says he expects this will be one of the highlights of this year's FOCAC sessions in Beijing.

"I'm glad I saw from my own eyes China is engaging and working to reduce poverty and increase development. The Chinese government has carried out constructions of hospitals and others in Liberia to remove poverty. The relationship with China is more meaningful than before for Liberia," says Flomo.

Zimbabwe's ambassador to China, Paul Chikawa, says the "10 major China-Africa cooperation plan" also represents opportunities for other countries looking to invest in Africa.

"China Africa plans and projects are for the mutual benefits of the two sides and beyond. I say beyond is because when you look for instance the infrastructure development, Projects implemented in Africa will not necessarily only open be used in terms of China and Africa cooperation but will be used by anyone from anywhere who desire to do business with Africa. I am talking about roads, rail, airports, ports, bridges and so on and so forth," says Chikawa.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to touch on many of these issues as part of his speech to open this year's Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing later on September 3rd.