By Stephen Ndegwa
There is a breath of fresh air flowing from China after the country’s Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee recently stated that it had “decisively beaten” the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a bold statement to make, similar to the one made by President Xi Jinping in December 2020 that China had eradicated extreme poverty.
Data shows that more than 200 million of its citizens have been diagnosed and treated for COVID-19 since it lifted strict containment measures beginning in November. In addition, 800,000 of the most critically ill patients recovered.
Even as China now transits to a post-pandemic stage after a long and successful fight against the pandemic which Xinhua termed as “extraordinary in the extreme,” the government has promised to “optimize and adjust prevention and control policies and measures according to the times and situations with a strong historical responsibility and strong strategic determination.”
In addition to the Bretton Woods institutions – the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank – the United Nations has also raised its prospects for China’s economic growth in 2023.
According to the “UN World Economic Situation and Prospects 2023” report, the world’s Gross Domestic product is projected to decelerate from an estimated 3.0 percent in 2022 to 1.9 percent in 2023, while China’s economic growth is forecast to accelerate to 4.8 percent in the same period. The report notes that growth in China is projected to moderately improve in 2023 as a result of the government’s adjustment of its COVID policy in late 2022, and the easing of monetary and fiscal policies.
With China’s economy now reopening, the IMF’s World Economic Outlook Update published on January 31 projected growth rebounding to 5.2 percent in 2023. The report sid both China and India will account for half of global growth this year, while the United States, and the Euro-area combined will account for only 10 percent.
The IMF noted that China’s recent reopening has paved the way for a faster-than-expected recovery of the global economy. Global inflation is expected to fall to 6.6 percent in 2023 and 4.3 percent in 2024, still above pre-pandemic levels.
China-Africa relations are also well on track. On February 18, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent a congratulatory message to the 36th African Union (AU) Summit. In his message, Xi pointed out that over the past year, the AU has united and led African countries to actively address global challenges, accelerate the construction of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and play an important role in mediating hotspot issues.
He added the international status and influence of Africa have continuously risen. The Chinese president stressed that China-Africa relations maintained a good momentum of development in 2022 as China-Africa cooperation has continued to develop in an all-round, multi-level and high-quality manner, and is at the forefront of international cooperation with Africa.
Xi
said he is ready to work with African leaders to further strengthen China-Africa friendship and cooperation, closely coordinate and cooperate in international and regional affairs, and promote the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.
Indeed, China is not just leading the world economically. On February 18, Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, reiterated China’s stance on peaceful development and called for mutual trust to promote a safer world.
Speaking during the just concluded Munich Security Conference 2023, an international platform for discussions on global security issues, Wang stated that “for a safer world, we must all insist on respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, on the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and consultation, on returning to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and on the key role of development.”
Underscoring China’s role in enhancing global peace and security, Wang noted that “with every increase in China’s strength, there will be more hope for peace in the world; with all countries working together for peaceful development, the future of mankind will be filled with light.”
