Africa and the global order: fighting against its past

The concern that Africa does not decouple from Europe - that it is firmly tied to economic, ideological and cultural dependence on the West - arises not only from considerations of monetary and economic gain. It has been made more urgent by the rise and success of China in providing a different political and socio-economic model of development to other regions of the world.

A new Africa freed from colonial and neo-colonial bondage and with its own model of development borrowing the best from China and other countries of the world will not only no longer be a subject of pity, remorse, charity and negative sentiment, especially as seen by the West.

It also has the opportunity to remake the world order. In the words of the final communique released by the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit

The two sides advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world, and maintain that all countries, regardless of differences in terms of geographical size, population density and socioeconomic development, should have equal rights, equal opportunities and follow the same rules, uphold the international system with the U.N. at its core, the international order underpinned by international law and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, oppose the monopoly of international affairs by a few countries, oppose hegemonism and power politics, and make global governance more just and equitable.