The Seventh China-Africa People’s Forum: Tunisia’s Strategies for Growth and Overcoming Challenges

Dr. Badra Gaaloul, Presidente of the International Center for Strategic Security and Military Studies 05-08-2024

The China-Africa Summit, also known as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), serves as a pivotal platform for enhancing the multifaceted partnership between China and African nations. This summit focuses on crucial areas such as the development of technical capabilities, the promotion of education and vocational training, and the support of Africa’s healthcare system through the construction of hospitals and provision of medical equipment. Additionally, the summit fosters cultural and artistic exchange and promotes cooperation in security and defense to combat terrorism and organized crime. The strengthened relations between China and African countries, facilitated by this summit, have significantly contributed to comprehensive development and economic growth across the African continent. For Tunisia, the summit represents a beacon of hope, offering opportunities to forge a robust strategic partnership with China, thereby enhancing its position in Africa and driving sustainable development for its people.

In her speech at the Seventh China-Africa People’s Forum, Dr. Badra Gaaloul highlighted Tunisia’s strategic aspirations and innovative solutions to overcome contemporary challenges. Dr. Gaaloul underscored the importance of economic cooperation, technology and innovation, infrastructure development, tourism revival, and political and diplomatic partnerships. Furthermore, she outlined Tunisia’s commitment to achieving trade balance, attracting regional investments, and promoting environmental sustainability. Dr Gaaloul’s following speech delves into these themes, offering a comprehensive analysis of Tunisia’s stakes in the China-Africa Summit and the key areas of cooperation.
 

Introduction

The Seventh China-Africa People’s Forum, held as part of the broader Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), serves as a pivotal platform fostering cooperation between China and African nations. This summit aims to enhance technical capabilities, promote education and vocational training, and support Africa’s healthcare system through the construction of hospitals and provision of medical equipment. Additionally, the forum encourages cultural and artistic exchanges and supports cooperation in security and defense to combat terrorism and organized crime. Thanks to this summit, the relations between China and African countries have become stronger and more diverse, contributing to comprehensive development and economic growth across the African continent. For Tunisia, this summit represents a significant opportunity to achieve a strong strategic partnership with China, enhancing its position in Africa and fostering sustainable development for its people.

 Tunisia at the China-Africa Summit: Strategic Aspirations and Stakes

1. Advancing Economic and Trade Cooperation

Tunisia aims to strengthen its economic and trade relations with Africa and China amidst global economic and geopolitical shifts, leveraging the “Belt and Road Initiative.” This Chinese initiative seeks to build infrastructure connecting Asia with Africa and Europe, opening new horizons for cooperation, development, and bilateral and multilateral partnerships. Given its strategic location and natural ports, Tunisia can play a pivotal role in this initiative, enhancing its status as a modern trade hub linking Europe and Africa. Improving logistical capabilities and developing free zones can attract investments and spur economic growth, boosting job opportunities and production and industrial capacities.

 2. Cooperation in Technology and Innovation

Creating strategic partnerships with China under the China-Africa Summit framework provides an opportunity for the transfer of advanced technology and the improvement of local technological infrastructure, including upgrading communication networks and developing information systems. Tunisia can benefit from Chinese expertise in research, development, and innovation. These partnerships enhance Tunisia’s international competitiveness, support economic growth, create new job opportunities, improve living standards, develop national skills, and streamline administrative processes.

 3. Infrastructure Development

Strengthening cooperation between Tunisia and China in infrastructure development, supported by the “Belt and Road Initiative,” aims to improve transportation networks and infrastructure, including updating highways, developing rail networks, and enhancing ports and airports. These efforts facilitate the movement of goods and people and improve mobility within Tunisia, with a focus on the transport and health sectors. Projects can be implemented to improve healthcare infrastructure, including building new hospitals, updating existing facilities, and providing training for healthcare workers. This partnership supports sustainable and economic development and enhances social and economic stability in Tunisia.

 4. Reviving and Developing Tourism

Enhancing tourism attraction by simplifying visa procedures for Chinese tourists, offering electronic visas, and streamlining bureaucratic processes can boost tourism relations between the two countries. Additionally, Tunisia needs to improve its tourism infrastructure by building and renovating hotels and enhancing transportation and tourist services to establish itself as a premier global tourist destination and support its national economy.

 5. Strengthening Political and Diplomatic Partnerships

Enhancing political and diplomatic cooperation between Tunisia and China includes supporting common political stances in international forums, with a focus on key issues such as the Palestinian cause. Both countries share principles and work together to achieve justice and peace in the region and the world, bolstering their international standing and strengthening their strategic relationship. Tunisia also seeks to enhance diplomatic relations with China through official exchanges and participation in international events to build strategic partnerships across various fields, enhancing bilateral relations and their international influence.

 Innovative Solutions for Contemporary Challenges

 1. Achieving Trade Balance

The China-Africa Summit presents a strategic opportunity to achieve trade balance. China is a major trade partner for Tunisia, and Tunisia looks forward to economic support that enhances economic and social stability. To achieve this, Tunisia should diversify its export products, improve their quality, and attract Chinese investments in sectors such as technology and renewable energy.

 2. Regional Competition

Tunisia can leverage the China-Africa Summit to attract investments by simplifying administrative procedures and offering financial and tax incentives, making it a preferred destination for Chinese investment in the region.

 3. Environmental Sustainability

Promoting environmental sustainability in Tunisia during the China-Africa Summit is a crucial step towards achieving sustainable development and protecting the local environment. This includes ensuring that development projects comply with international environmental sustainability standards, using clean and renewable technologies in energy and infrastructure, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and improving waste management.

In the context of cooperation, several important aspects should be focused on:

Ensuring Compliance with Environmental Sustainability Standards:

 This can be achieved by adopting clean and renewable technology in energy and infrastructure, such as developing solar and wind power plants that reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions. This step not only benefits the environment but also strengthens Tunisia’s energy independence.

Encouraging Sustainable Agricultural Practices:

This can be achieved through the use of modern irrigation techniques, organic fertilizers, and crop rotation, preserving soil health and increasing resource use efficiency.

Improving Waste Management Systems:

Developing projects aimed at recycling and reducing solid and liquid waste helps preserve the local environment and reduce pollution. Additionally, these projects create new job opportunities in the waste management sector and turn waste into a resource for the country through bioenergy use.

Enhancing Local Capacities in Environmental Protection:

Joint Chinese-Tunisian training programs and workshops aim to raise environmental awareness and develop the necessary skills to apply sustainability practices across all sectors. Strengthening research and technological cooperation between Tunisia and China in green technology and environmental innovation can contribute to the transfer of advanced knowledge and technologies to Tunisia, supporting local efforts to improve production processes and make them more sustainable.

Addressing Water Scarcity and Dam Silting:

Collaboration between Tunisia and China to tackle water scarcity and dam silting can include developing projects to desalinate seawater using solar energy, creating advanced irrigation systems that minimize water waste, and reusing treated wastewater in agriculture and industry. These efforts can help secure sustainable water sources for Tunisia, contributing to economic growth stability and improving living conditions for the population.

conclusion

Thus, the China-Africa Summit underscores the importance of adopting a comprehensive and sustainable developmental approach that preserves the environment and enhances fruitful cooperation between participating countries. These joint efforts can create a new model for sustainable development in Africa and the world, where economic growth is achieved without sacrificing the environment and ensuring the sustainable provision of water resources to meet the needs of current and future generations.