China’s annual “Two Sessions” carry significant implications for Kenya, the African continent, and the broader Global South. This observation was highlighted in a recent article published on the website of Kenya’s Capital FM Radio.
In the article, author Stephen Ndegwa noted that this year’s Two Sessions are of particular importance, as they will lay the foundation for China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, which is expected to influence the flow of funding, technological cooperation, and partnerships across developing countries.
The article further emphasizes that the development is especially meaningful for Africa. For many years, China has served as a key driver of global development, contributing more than 30 percent to global economic growth. China’s economic expansion has helped broaden global supply chains, stabilize commodity markets, and create opportunities for developing countries to benefit through closer trade and investment ties with China.
Citing data from international organizations, the article notes that a 1 percent increase in China’s economic growth leads to an average 0.3 percent growth in the economies of related countries. As a result, export-oriented African enterprises—such as copper mining companies in Zambia and agricultural exporters in East Africa—have clearly benefited from China’s continued economic development.
The author also highlights the transformation of China’s economic growth model. According to Ndegwa, China is moving toward innovation-driven development while accelerating a large-scale green transition. The country’s transformation in areas such as high-tech manufacturing, renewable energy, and digital infrastructure is creating important opportunities for cooperation with African nations.
Ndegwa notes that China’s global success in **three major sectors—new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic (solar power) products—**demonstrates the scale of its economic transformation. For African countries rich in critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, the green economy offers a strategic pathway to enter the global value chain.
African nations, he observes, are no longer limited to exporting raw materials alone. Instead, they are increasingly participating in downstream processing, manufacturing cooperation, and technology transfer, aligned with the development of China’s green industries.
The article also states that under the framework of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, China-Africa cooperation is expected to deepen further in the coming years, placing greater emphasis not only on infrastructure development but also on technological frameworks and innovation partnerships.
According to Ndegwa, the continuity of China’s governance and development planning is a notable feature for countries in the Global South. Through the 15th Five-Year Plan, China will continue its economic reforms, infrastructure investments, and industrial development. A stable policy environment not only attracts investment but also provides the long-term certainty necessary for industrial planning.
Looking ahead, the global economic landscape is expected to advance through South-South cooperation, technological collaboration, and shared development.
The article concludes that in a world marked by geopolitical instability and fragmented supply chains, China’s sustained and stable development is contributing to broader stability in the global economy.
Source: Anupama, Touhid & Shishir, China Media Group.