On January 5, Guangming Daily published the article “Sino-African Ecologic Civilization Community: Origins, Opportunities, and Prospects” written by Professor Zhang Jianzhen and graduate student Ge Jiahao from the College of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Zhejiang Normal University (ZJNU).

The article claims that in the future of China-Africa cooperation, ecological cooperation will play an important role in the establishment of a China-Africa community oriented towards sustainable green development. Adhering to green development and advancing the construction of ecological civilization is not only an important component of China’s push for modernization, but also a major point of reference for African countries to explore the construction of ecological civilization. As an important component of the shared future of the China-Africa community, the China-Africa ecologic civilization community still needs to make efforts in scientific and technological innovation and cultural exchanges.

Here follows excerpts of the article:

Sino-African Ecologic Civilization Community: 

Origins, Opportunities, and Prospects

by Zhang Jianzhen

Ge Jiahao

The 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was held in Senegal not long ago. On that occasion, China proposed to promote green development and jointly implement green development projects with African countries. In the future of China-Africa cooperation, ecological cooperation will play an important role in the establishment of a China-Africa community oriented towards sustainable green development.

Opportunities for the Development of China-Africa Ecological Cooperation

Facing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, China has clearly proposed to use new development concepts to promote the green recovery of the world economy in the post-pandemic era as well as promote the evolution of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) towards a greener and more sustainable direction. While the Chinese experience of ecological civilization establishment continues to be demonstrated, Africa’s objective needs for ecological environmental governance are also increasing. In this context, a green BRI closely connects China’s experience with Africa’s needs, provides new developmental opportunities for China-Africa ecological cooperation, and provides a practical platform for China and Africa to implement green development projects.

Adhering to green development and advancing the construction of ecological civilization is not only an important component of China’s push for modernization, but also a major point of reference for African countries to explore the construction of ecological civilization. The practical exploration of China’s ecological civilization construction has been increasingly recognized by the international community. The considerable progress China has made in advancing the construction of ecological civilization has aroused the close attention of the majority of African countries. As a responsible major country, China is willing to share with African countries the Chinese experience in the establishment of ecological civilization and contribute with its strength, wisdom, and solutions toward the construction of ecological civilization in African countries.

With the adoption of Agenda 2063 by the African Union, people of African countries would “join together to build a prosperous and united Africa on the basis of common values and common destiny.” One of the major visions of the agenda is inclusive growth and sustainable development. The concept of “building a prosperous Africa” shows that African countries have the need to solve ecological and environmental problems and pursue a path of green development.

China thus proposes to align the construction of the BRI with the implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and development strategies of African countries, so as to integrate green development into it.

Prospects for China-Africa Ecological Cooperation

The convening of the latest Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has clarified China-Africa’s new proposition to adhere to green development and jointly implement green development projects in the future, as well as to design a map for the development of the Sino-African community with a shared future. As a crucial component of this community, the China-Africa ecologic civilization community still needs to make efforts in scientific and technological innovation and cultural exchanges.

First, China-Africa ecological environment governance should be led by technological innovation. African countries are aware of the ecological problems caused by excessive resource development and land use, but they are limited by factors such as backward governance and shortage of special funds, low ecological governance capabilities, and insufficient motivation for scientific and technological innovation. Therefore, it is a common aspiration of the Chinese and African people to lead China-Africa ecological environment governance with technological innovation and promote the formation of a China-Africa community of ecological civilization.

Second, China-Africa ecological environment education should be promoted through cultural exchanges. The people of the nations are the driving forces and supervisors of the construction of ecological civilization, and the construction of ecological civilization especially requires the wisdom of the masses and the participation of citizens. Therefore, in order to build a long-term and efficient China-Africa ecological civilization community, not only is the traction of top-level scientific and technological forces needed, but the support of grass-roots cultural exchanges are also fundamental. China and Africa can build a talent training highland for ecological civilization education in China and Africa with the help of AU education strategy and relying on China Association for Science and Technology, and its subordinate and related institutions, can establish a two-way interaction and regular exchange mechanism for ecological civilization education talents between China and Africa, selecting Chinese ecological education talents to carry out study visits and exchanges in Africa and help Africa incubate ecological education talents through special talent joint training programs.

In the face of major and unprecedented changes in the world, China and Africa need to work side by side and work together to build a China-Africa community of ecological civilization, inject green development vitality into a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, and play a representative role in green ecological growth. (Source: College of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Zhejiang Normal University, translated by Marco Lovisetto, edited by Mariam Ayad)