By Matik Kueth
China has offered a significant expansion of its economic partnership with Africa, including duty-free access to the Chinese market for all African countries, pending mutual agreement.
The announcement was made as African foreign ministers convened in Changsha, a city in central China, on Thursday to monitor progress on promises made during the most recent Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which took place in September.
Previously, zero-tariff treatment was extended to only 33 African countries. Under the new proposal, this preferential trade access could be widened to include all African nations, with a particular focus on supporting the continent’s least developed countries.
The initiative is designed to enhance Africa’s export potential and further open the vast Chinese market to African goods.
In a congratulatory message to the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of FOCAC Follow-up Actions, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that the initiative would inject fresh momentum into the growing China-Africa economic relationship.
He underscored China’s commitment to fostering shared development and building a stronger foundation for long-term cooperation.
China has already become Africa’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching nearly US$300 billion in 2024.
The expanded duty-free access could significantly boost trade volumes, promote industrial growth across Africa, and help narrow the development gap.
The proposal is viewed as part of China’s broader strategy to support economic diversification in Africa while also deepening its strategic and economic ties with the continent through infrastructure, investment, and trade initiatives.