The president of China, Xi Jinping, announced this Saturday that his country will suspend all its tariffs on imports from the 53 African countries with whom it maintains diplomatic relations as of next May 1.
“Starting May 1, 2026, China to fully implement zero-tariff measures in 53 African countries with whom it maintains diplomatic relations,” the Chinese Presidency announced in a statement reported by the country’s official news agency, Xinhua.
“In the face of a complex and volatile international situation, China is firmly committed to safeguarding world peace, promoting common development and building a community of common destiny for humanity”, quotes the official Chinese agency on the message conveyed by Xi to the Angolan president, João Lourenço, rotating president of the African Union, and to the president of the African Union Commission, Mahmud Alí Yusuf.
“Over the past year, the African Union has united and led African countries in actively pushing forward the integration process, firmly safeguarding Africa’s legitimate rights and interests, and its international status and influence have continued to grow,” applauded the Chinese president.
Finally, Xi guaranteed China will continue to promote the signing of a common economic partnership agreement for development and will further expand market access for African products exported to China by modernizing the “green channel” and other measures.
“These new measures by China to expand high-level opening-up will undoubtedly provide new opportunities for African development and for China and Africa to jointly pursue their dream of modernization,” the president added.
“China,” President Xi stressed, “is willing to work with Africa to advance historic friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthen mutual understanding and affinity, and together write a new chapter in the China-Africa community with a shared future, a shared future for all, in the new era.”
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