China's leader, Xi Jinping, has pledged to launch initiatives that will support Africa's industrialization and agricultural modernization. During a meeting with African leaders at the BRICS summit, Xi emphasized the importance of China's cooperation with Africa in growing its manufacturing sector and achieving economic diversification. While no specific details were provided, Xi's commitment comes as China's funding for infrastructure projects in Africa has already decreased over the years.

African leaders have expressed their desire for China to shift its focus from infrastructure projects to local industrialization, and Xi's announcement aligns with these aspirations. Furthermore, President Xi Jinping's visit to Africa reflects his goal of positioning China as a leader of the developing world. He commended developing countries for overcoming the remnants of colonialism and called for greater cooperation among African countries to address global changes and chaos. Xi's visit to South Africa for the BRICS summit has allowed China to strengthen its relationships with African countries and showcase its commitment to providing an alternative to the Western-led global order.

China's investments in Africa have been significant, with billions of dollars allocated for loans, aid, and investment projects in countries that were previously overlooked by the West. These investments have not only earned China diplomatic support in international organizations but have also provided access to critical minerals for industries like electric vehicles. However, some African countries have accumulated crippling debt due to China-funded projects, although China has attempted to restructure some bilateral debts. The BRICS summit in Johannesburg provided an opportunity for Xi to criticize the United States' trade restrictions against China and advocate for increased cooperation among BRICS nations.

The summit aimed to strengthen the group's collective stance against decoupling and disruption of global supply chains. While the summit's attendees included countries aligned with China and others seeking to hedge between China and the US, the main focus was on expanding the BRICS group to enhance its global standing. Overall, Xi Jinping's promises of support for Africa's industrialization, his efforts to position China as a leader of the developing world, and the push for a stronger BRICS group all contribute to China's strategy of providing an alternative to Western influence. As China faces its own economic challenges, it remains to be seen how it will balance its commitments to Africa and other developing nations.