The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC): International cooperation for development, strategic interests and African agency
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15847/cea51.49610Keywords:
international development cooperation, South-South cooperation, China, Africa, FOCAC, foreign policyAbstract
This article examines the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) as the primary instrument of China’s International Development Cooperation (IDC) in the African continent. Through a qualitative case study based on the analysis of FOCAC Action Plans (2000-2025), official Chinese documents, and the specialized literature, it investigates how the Forum operationalizes Beijing’s strategic interests. The findings indicate that FOCAC advances economic, political, diplomatic, and security objectives under the rhetoric of South-South cooperation. Furthermore, the study highlights the agency of African countries in negotiating and implementing cooperation initiatives, demonstrating that the Forum functions as a space for socialization, negotiation, and the convergence of interests between China and Africa.
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