This archive report was first published on 3 July 2021.
July 3, 2021, marks a significant milestone for the Communist Party of China, as it celebrates its centenary. Founded in 1921, the party has grown from a small group of 50 idealistic agitators to a formidable governing institution with over 90 million members.
Over the past century, the party has achieved remarkable feats, including beating back foreign occupiers, winning a civil war, establishing the People's Republic of China, and lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty. Its impact extends far beyond China's borders, with the party maintaining robust relationships with political parties across the world, including in Africa.
One of the earliest encounters between the CPC and Africa took place in 1963, when then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai embarked on a ten-nation tour of the region. His journey laid the foundation for continued cooperation between the CPC and African political organizations, with the party playing a central role in supporting liberation movements and development projects across the continent.
Today, the CPC maintains lively relationships with its African counterparts, with many African leaders congratulating the party on its centennial milestone. Deputy Secretary-General of South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress, praised the CPC's achievements as an example for developing countries to follow, while President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi commended the party for leading the Chinese people to the forefront of world development.
In Kenya, the secretary-general of the ruling Jubilee Party congratulated the CPC for achieving the 'China Miracle,' crediting the party with China's historic gains in GDP over the past few decades. President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe also praised the CPC's achievements, describing them as 'tremendous' and highlighting the party's people-focused approach.
