China has reaffirmed its commitment to providing 100 per cent zero-tariff access for goods from African nations, including Kenya, with which it maintains diplomatic relations. The move, announced by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, underscores President Xi Jinping’s administration’s pledge to enhance trade and development partnerships across the continent.
Speaking at the 23rd Lanting Forum in Beijing, Wang Yi said China would “fully deliver on the zero-tariff treatment for 100 per cent tariff lines” for African and least-developed countries. The aim, he added, is to ensure that China’s development benefits are shared widely under the Global Governance Initiative, further opening its markets to African products.
The Lanting Forum, a high-level platform created by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brought together global leaders to discuss strengthening cooperation and building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Reiterating Beijing’s commitment under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit held in September 2024, Wang Yi said China would implement 10 partnership actions for modernization with Africa. These include establishing 25 China-Africa research centers, inviting 1,000 African political party members for exchanges, and supporting local value chains through five industrial cooperation growth circles.
China also pledged to back 30 major infrastructure projects, including Kenya’s Rironi-Mau Summit road and the Standard Gauge Railway extension, which aims to link the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic. Additionally, Beijing will assist the African Union (AU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost continental connectivity.
Further commitments include implementing 1,000 “small and beautiful” livelihood projects, waiving interest-free loans due by the end of 2024, and contributing to partnership funds. China will also build joint medical centers under the China-Africa hospital alliance, dispatch 2,000 medical personnel, and support malaria elimination and agricultural technology transfer projects.
Through these initiatives, China aims to strengthen Africa’s economic independence, enhance infrastructure development, and foster long-term mutual prosperity.
