China courts Africa at AU summit with expanded market access and trade incentives
Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged expanded market access and new trade incentives for African countries, as Beijing seeks to deepen economic ties with the continent.
In congratulatory messages sent on February 14 to Angolan President João Lourenço, the rotating chair of the African Union (AU), and AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat Youssef, Xi marked the opening of the 39th AU Summit by outlining fresh measures aimed at boosting China-Africa cooperation.
Xi announced that from May 1, 2026, China will fully implement zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations. He said the move would expand high-level opening-up and create new opportunities for African exports to enter the Chinese market.
In addition to tariff removal, China will promote the signing of a common economic partnership agreement for development and further expand market access for African goods. This includes upgrading so-called “green channels” to speed up customs clearance and facilitate trade.
“The world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century,” he said, noting the growing influence of the Global South and the African Union’s role in advancing continental integration and defending Africa’s interests.
The announcement comes as China and Africa mark 70 years of diplomatic relations. Over the decades, China has become one of Africa’s largest trading partners and a major source of infrastructure financing.
Xi said China is ready to work with African nations to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthen people-to-people ties and build what he described as an “all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future.”
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
