By Ayo Ayodele
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Mr. Tunde Rahman, has said China’s newly unveiled 15th Five-Year Development Plan presents vast opportunities for Africa in the areas of infrastructure, industrialization, technology transfer, and green development.
Rahman made the remarks on Friday at a forum on China–Africa cooperation held at the Landmark Centre, Lagos, under the theme “Jointly Drawing the Blueprint, Sharing the Development.” The event was organized by the China Media Group and the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos.
He said China’s economic rise over the last four decades was a result of deliberate and consistent planning, adding that the Asian country’s latest plan, covering 2026 to 2030, focuses on high-quality growth, digital transformation, technological innovation, and green development.
“China’s success did not happen by chance. It came through deliberate, continuous and comprehensive planning. The 15th Five-Year Plan again emphasizes high-quality development, focusing on technological innovation, green transition and economic restructuring,” he said.
According to Rahman, the plan highlights new opportunities for Africa in infrastructure, digital economy, agriculture, and renewable energy, areas where China has demonstrated strong expertise.
He noted that Chinese-built projects such as the Lekki Deep Seaport and the Lagos Blue Rail Line in Nigeria, as well as the Noor Solar Project in Morocco and the De Aar Wind Power Project in South Africa, illustrate China’s contribution to Africa’s sustainable development.
However, Rahman cautioned that both sides must address key challenges to sustain the partnership, including debt sustainability, environmental responsibility, and local content participation.
He revealed that between 2000 and 2023, Chinese lenders provided over $182 billion in loans to 49 African countries and seven regional organizations, accounting for about 12% of Africa’s total external debt.
“Africa needs to ensure its debt levels remain sustainable, while China also needs to consider debt restructuring or forgiveness,” Rahman said, adding that Chinese firms operating on the continent should prioritize environmental standards and technology transfer.
He also called for greater cooperation between China and Africa in the fields of culture, education, and tourism, and urged Beijing to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Rahman said the partnership should evolve from dependency to shared prosperity through mutual respect, innovation, and sustainability.
He commended President Bola Tinubu’s readiness to strengthen Nigeria–China relations, saying the president is “prepared and ready to take that important next step in advancing the partnership based on mutual trust and shared prosperity.”
“The future of China–Africa relations can only blossom further if both sides address these challenges and prioritize mutual benefits,” he added.