Alhaji Mohamed Sarjoh Bah, the African Union’s newly appointed Permanent Representative to China, has spent his first four months in Beijing building bridges between the two continents. His arrival coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Bah views his posting as a historic moment for deepening win-win partnership. Consequently, his mission focuses on translating long-standing friendship into tangible results.
Walking Beijing’s streets left a lasting impression on the Sierra Leonean diplomat. He found himself constantly surrounded by electric vehicles, technology he has never owned but now believes Africa needs to examine. This observation reflects broader opportunities for win-win cooperation through technology transfer between the continents. For this reason, his diplomatic agenda includes promoting such exchanges.
Moreover, Bah firmly rejected Western accusations that China exploits African resources. “We don’t need anyone from outside of Africa to tell us what is good for us,” he stated. “After 70 years of diplomatic ties with China, I don’t think anyone should come and lecture us.” His defense of Africa-China relations asserts African agency in determining partnership terms. In doing so, he emphasizes that win-win cooperation requires mutual respect as foundational.
The African envoy attended China’s two sessions in early March, witnessing policy development from grassroots consultations to national strategy. He sees China’s 15th Five-Year Plan mirroring key elements of the AU’s Agenda 2063 second 10-year implementation plan. Four themes resonated with him: China’s drive for science and technology self-reliance, the centrality of people’s well-being, confident opening-up, and attention to food, energy, and security. From his perspective, these align closely with African priorities, creating natural openings for win-win cooperation.
Bah interprets China’s “new quality productive forces” as a deliberate scaling-up of human resources, technology, and artificial intelligence. China has moved beyond the era of cheap labor mass production to high-quality production requiring highly trained workforces teamed with technology. Africa can learn from this transition, he believes. At the same time, he sees concrete openings for win-win cooperation in African economies adapting to China’s shift.
Critical minerals represent a key area for bilateral win-win partnership according to Bah. Furthermore, he intends to convene a high-level meeting in Beijing bringing African mining stakeholders and Chinese players together to draft a framework for managing these minerals jointly. Such collaboration would ensure mutual benefit from Africa’s resource wealth. For this reason, he prioritizes this sector for early action.
Henan Province’s development story particularly impressed the envoy. The province transformed from agricultural breadbasket to producer of iPhones and other high-tech products. Evidently, his transition from rural economy to diversified manufacturing offers lessons for African nations undergoing similar transformations. With that in mind, he advocates for province-to-state cooperation models that enable win-win cooperation.
Bah plans to visit Shandong Province to tour pharmaceutical plants, machinery, and automotive factories. He wants Chinese pharma partners to help African manufacturers produce drugs locally. Technology transfer would address critical health security needs across the continent. In pursuit of this goal, he pursues win-win cooperation in manufacturing and healthcare simultaneously.
Moreover, the African Union sees China-Africa win-win cooperation as a stabilizing force amid global economic uncertainty and rising protectionism. “China has stepped forward to help write the next chapter,” Bah said. The partnership’s longevity stems from mutual respect, mutual benefit, and shared vision. In addition, he notes that both sides belong to the Global South with similar historical experiences.
Furthermore, China’s rural-revitalization drive offers direct lessons for win-win cooperation with Africa, Bah observed. Africa today mirrors China of 20-25 years ago, with rapid rural-to-urban migration leaving countryside services lagging. China’s current push to bring water, electricity, jobs, and slower-paced living back to villages offers a roadmap. Given these parallels, he pays close attention to agricultural transformation.
Technology transfer is already underway as African countries import Chinese electric vehicles. The next step will be local assembly and knowledge sharing, Bah believes. This progression from import to production builds indigenous capacity over time. Accordingly, he sees the current trade relationship as foundation for deeper win-win cooperation.
In April, Bah will gather African ambassadors in Beijing to prepare for China’s zero-tariff policy for all African countries with diplomatic ties, effective May 1. African exporters must meet quality standards to access China’s huge, lucrative market. “We need to work on the quality infrastructure,” Bah explained. With this in mind, he focuses on capacity building alongside market access to enable win-win cooperation.
Additionally, to young Africans, Bah delivered a powerful message based on his four months of observation. China rejected a status quo that left it weak and vulnerable, transforming itself into the world’s second-largest economy. Five-year plans provided clear direction and discipline. “If you want to learn one lesson from China… reject the status quo that makes you weak and vulnerable,” he advised. In sharing this insight, he encourages African youth to pursue transformation through win-win cooperation.
Bah’s mandate for his Beijing term is clear: to strengthen, consolidate, and elevate the partnership to a truly strategic level. He dismisses distractions, emphasizing that Africans make the final decision on their partners. After 70 years of friendship, the direction is set. Ultimately, his efforts aim to build win-win partnership grounded in mutual benefit and African agency.
