Date published: July 29, 2025.
The 5th African Ambassadors Retreat on China-Africa Cooperation concluded in Beijing on July 25, marking another successful gathering of African diplomats and strategic partners dedicated to deepening Africa-China collaboration. Co-hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Congo, in its role as FOCAC Co-Chair, and Development Reimagined, the retreat reinforced its growing role as a trusted, high-level annual platform for dialogue and action.
Held over two days, the retreat convened 48 participants, including 33 representatives from 25 African embassies in China and 15 participants from UN agencies, international organizations, and Chinese cooperation platforms. Among the African attendees were 10 Ambassadors from Malawi, Rwanda, Lesotho, São Tomé and Príncipe, Mozambique, Uganda, Seychelles, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo, and Kenya.
The retreat took place just one month after Ministerial Coordination Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the official announcement of China’s new zero-tariff policy for 100% of products from all African countries that have diplomatic ties with China. Discussions focused on concrete steps toward implementing the Beijing Action Plan (2024–2027), strategies for joint embassy coordination in Beijing, and leveraging multilateral channels to deliver on shared development goals of Agenda 2063.
Keynote presentations were delivered by a distinguished lineup of speakers, including:
- Dr. Tsotetsi Makong, Director of Coordination and Programmes, AfCFTA Secretariat
- Mr. Wang Xiaoyong, Deputy Chairman, China Africa Business Council
- Mr. Du Lingxuan, Chief Analyst, China Chengxin International Credit Rating (CCXI)
- Mr. Gao Ran, Manager, Infrastructure & Energy Investment Department, CADFund
- Mr. Babajide Sodipo, Acting Executive Secretary, AAMFI
- Mr. Solomon Quaynor, Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization, AfDB
- Mr. Zhang Jianyu, Chief Development Officer, BRI International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC)
- Dr. Zhou Kai, Global Partnership Advisor, UNAIDS China
- Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, United Nations Resident Coordinator
- Ms. Amakobe Sande, Representative of UNICEF China
These speakers offered strategic insights on financing, trade, regional industrialization, health cooperation, and green development, providing valuable guidance for FOCAC implementation efforts in the coming years.
The retreat concluded with closing remarks by Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, who emphasized the UN system’s commitment to support tripartite cooperation between Africa, China, and the UN. He also expressed his strong intention to further deepen collaboration with Development Reimagined, recognizing its role as a consistent and trusted partner in facilitating meaningful dialogue and results-driven partnerships.
Reflecting on the retreat, many ambassadors emphasized that in the current geopolitical moment, African countries must make strategic choices — speaking with one collective voice, building alliances, and keeping their development priorities front and center. The sentiment was echoed throughout the retreat, reinforcing the necessity of African unity and agency in shaping China-Africa cooperation moving forward.
Now in its fifth edition, the Retreat reflected the continued trust and collaboration extended to Development Reimagined by African embassies and partners. The event has gradually grown into a valued platform for strategic engagement on FOCAC follow-up, and a meaningful example of African-owned and African-led coordination in China and beyond.
