The economic and trade relations between China and Africa have shown a growth trend in the past two years. Recently, data released by Chinese government indicating that the trade volume between China and Africa in the first seven months of this year increased by 5.5% compared to the same period last year, reaching 1.19 trillion RMB. If calculated from 2000 to 2023, the average annual growth rate of China Africa trade volume is as high as 17.2%, significantly higher than the trade growth rate of China and some other regions.
Christian Geraud Nima, an expert on China Africa relations who has lived in China for ten years and currently resides in Mauritius, stated that green energy will definitely be a major focus of China Africa cooperation in the future. Africa will not only play an important role in China’s new energy industry chain, but its own green transformation needs will also play a key role in China Africa relations.
Nima believes that green energy products such as solar cells and electric vehicles produced in China can expand their market in Africa. It should be known that many parts of Africa still lack of sufficient electricity, which hinders Africa’s economic development, especially industrial development. Therefore, Africa is looking forward to green energy solutions from China.
Many Chinese companies are currently carrying out clean energy projects in Africa. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, hundreds of clean energy and green development projects have been implemented in Africa, which not only help African countries strengthen energy security, but also mitigate the impact of climate change in Africa and globally.
Although the clean energy installed capacity in Africa is extremely low compared to other regions around the world, it has achieved double-digit growth in recent years. In 2023, the installed capacity of solar power in Africa surged by 19%, and countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and Namibia have announced clean energy development plans. Many Chinese clean energy companies are actively responding to explore the African market.
Lina Benabdallah, a political scientist at Wake Forest University in the US, said she does not believe that the so-called overcapacity of China’s clean energy products will harm the markets of African countries, as African countries do not produce these products. “I think it’s ironic. A few years ago, Western countries accused China of not doing enough in the field of clean energy, but now they feel like Chinese doing too much.”
Nima said that the African market is vast but not wealthy, the country does urgently need green energy products to increase its electricity supply.
