Africa-Press – Mauritius. Xi Jinping has pledged that China will fully implement zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to Beijing starting May 1, 2026.
The trade arrangement, once implemented, would mark a major step in China’s economic engagement with the continent.
In a congratulatory message sent Saturday to João Lourenço, rotating chairperson of the African Union (AU), and Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, chairperson of the AU Commission, Xi extended warm congratulations to African countries and their people on the occasion of the 39th AU Summit.
At the center of Xi’s message was a sweeping trade commitment that China will grant zero-tariff treatment to nearly all African nations that maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing.
This is one step further, building on the declaration that China will implement zero-tariff treatment for African countries with which it maintains diplomatic ties, last June in Changsha.
The move is designed to expand African exports to China and deepen economic integration between the two sides.
Xi said China will also accelerate negotiations and signing of economic partnership agreements focused on shared development.
Additional measures will include upgrading the ‘green channel’ mechanism to further facilitate African exports into the Chinese market.
The Chinese leader framed the policy within the wider global shifts, noting that the world is experiencing changes ‘unseen in a century’, while the strength of the Global South, of which Kenya is part, continues to grow.
He praised the AU for maintaining unity over the past year, advancing regional integration, safeguarding Africa’s legitimate rights and interests, and enhancing the continent’s international standing.
Xi emphasised that China remains committed to global peace, common development, and building a community with a shared future for humanity.
According to Xi, the expanded zero-tariff treatment and related opening-up measures will create new development opportunities for African nations and support the shared modernisation goals of both China and Africa.
This year also marks seven decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and African countries.
Xi highlighted what he described as a history of solidarity and mutual support, saying China stands ready to deepen cooperation, strengthen people-to-people ties, and jointly advance what he called an “all-weather” China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
China has upscaled its ties with Africa, putting it at the center of its modernisation plan.
