The fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha highlighted deepening economic ties fueled by China's zero-tariff policy for African LDCs, resulting in record trade, major project deals, and growing African exports to the Chinese market.

by Xinhua writer Zhao Zhiqin

CHANGSHA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, themed "China and Africa: Together Toward Modernization," opened on Thursday in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province.

The expo takes place half a year after China granted zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of product categories to all least developed countries (LDCs) with which it has diplomatic relations, including 33 African countries, starting from Dec. 1, 2024.

Following the implementation of the zero-tariff policy, bilateral economic ties have gone from strength to strength, as vividly demonstrated in the dynamic economic and trade cooperation at the expo.

EXPO OF COOPERATION

According to statistics, 83 percent of signed projects during the first three versions of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo had been implemented since its launch in 2019.

Nearly 4,700 Chinese and African companies as well as over 30,000 participants are attending this year's expo. During the event, 176 cooperation projects worth 11.39 billion U.S. dollars were signed, covering diverse sectors including construction and manufacturing, power and energy, transportation, information services, as well as culture and healthcare.

At the four-day event, more than 800 African products, ranging from Kenyan black tea to Congolese framed artwork, either debuted or expanded their presence in the Chinese market, a stable and promising destination supported by favorable policies and platforms.

In recent years, many African countries have actively embarked on expanding trade with China, especially in the wake of the zero-tariff policy.

In an interview with Xinhua, Gambian Ambassador to China Masanneh Nyuku Kinteh highly valued China's implementation of the zero-tariff treatment, expressing the belief that it presents a significant opportunity for Africa by turning China's vast market into a shared platform for development.

At present, some Gambian seafood products have been exported to China, he said, adding that many more Gambian goods will be available in the coming years.

From December to March, China's imports from African LDCs rose 15.2 percent year on year, reaching 21.42 billion dollars, said an official from China's Ministry of Commerce recently. In the first quarter of 2025, Chinese imports of African coffee surged by 70.4 percent, while cocoa bean imports rose by 56.8 percent.

Calling the zero-tariff policy "extremely good," Dr. Isaac Shinyekwa, head of Trade and Regional Integration Department at the Economic Policy Research Centre of Makerere University of Uganda, noted that with the preferential zero-tariff treatment now in place, African countries need to "develop the products and the standards."

Cheikh Tidiane Ndiaye, former editor-in-chief of the Senegalese News Agency, told Xinhua in an interview that in recent years, China-Africa economic and trade cooperation -- particularly between China and Senegal -- has seen remarkable growth in several strategic sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries and digital services.

China's zero-tariff policy for products from African LDCs with diplomatic relations to China serves as a tangible boost for exporting higher value-added African products, which gives African producers easier access to the vast Chinese market, he said.

WHY CHINA

According to data released by the General Administration of Customs of China, China has maintained its position as Africa's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, with bilateral trade volume surpassing 2 trillion yuan for the first time in 2024 to reach 2.1 trillion yuan (about 292.7 billion dollars).

From January to May 2025, China-Africa trade totaled 963.21 billion yuan (about 134.27 billion dollars), marking a 12.4 percent year-on-year increase and hitting a record high for the period.

Despite global economic uncertainties, Ndiaye, the former editor-in-chief, noted that China-Africa trade has shown strong resilience, driven by several key factors.

The structural complementarity between the two sides creates a strong foundation, and cooperation mechanisms like the FOCAC ensure continuous and pragmatic coordination between the two sides, he said.

Most important of all, China's engagement with Africa is grounded in mutual respect and equality, said Ndiaye, adding that China's policy is more inclusive, stable, non-political, and aligns with the development priorities of African nations.

Africa will continue to shift its focus toward Asia, particularly China, said Carlos Lopes, former executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and currently an honorary professor at the Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town.

"The engagements (with China) are often more pragmatic, less moralizing, and increasingly strategic," said Lopes.