Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)
Established in 2000, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (中非合作论坛) functions as China’s primary multilateral mechanism for engaging with 53 African nations, excluding only Eswatini which maintains ties with Taiwan. While Beijing presents FOCAC as a partnership of equals guided by its “Five Nos” policy—including non-interference and no political conditions on aid—critics note these principles often serve China’s strategic interests in securing resources and diplomatic support. Since 2018, FOCAC has been explicitly folded into China’s Belt and Road Initiative, with Beijing making headline-grabbing financial pledges ($60 billion in both 2015 and 2018) that combine loans, investments, and limited grants, though actual disbursement figures remain difficult to verify independently. The FOCAC Office is located within the Department of African Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
