Zero tariffs are the 'golden calling card' of China Africa cooperation in the new era (International Guanlan)

China's comprehensive implementation of zero tariffs on 53 African countries with diplomatic relations will officially take effect on May 1st. The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to promote high-level opening up to the outside world, and zero tariffs is a strategic decision made by the Party Central Committee in the first year of the 15th Five Year Plan to coordinate the domestic and international situations and focus on expanding high-level opening up to the outside world. It is a major measure to practice the policy concept of genuine, friendly and sincere relations with Africa and the correct view of righteousness and interests, and has epoch-making significance in the history of China Africa relations and international relations.

Zero tariffs reflect the traditional friendship between China and Africa. The friendship between China and Africa has been tested by the changing international situation, forming a solid foundation of mutual trust and common development. Zero tariffs are a natural extension of this profound accumulation. China's zero tariff policy towards Africa began in 2005 with the implementation of preferential zero tariffs on 190 imported goods from 25 African countries. Over the next 20 years, China has continuously expanded its borders and increased its benefits, elevating its relationship with Africa to a historical resonance of the all-weather China Africa community with a shared future in the new era. Zero tariffs have been comprehensively raised to the highest level at the important historical node of the 70th anniversary of the opening of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, reflecting China's consistent policy towards Africa and highlighting the weight of Africa on China's diplomatic balance.

Zero tariffs embody the global sentiment of China's diplomacy and self-reliance. The Third and Fourth Plenary Sessions of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made systematic arrangements for steadily expanding institutional openness. Against the backdrop of global protectionism and unilateralism, and at a time when the spillover effects of the Middle East situation are affecting neighboring continents, China provides long-term, stable, and predictable institutional guarantees for China Africa cooperation with zero tariffs, shares opportunities and common development with Africa, and demonstrates China Africa's determination to contribute to global peace and development with stability. Taking zero tariffs as a demonstration, China promotes global openness through its own opening-up, creates a favorable environment for China's foreign trade, investment, and development cooperation, shapes new advantages in international cooperation and competition, and promotes inclusive economic globalization.

Zero tariffs have injected new momentum into the high-quality development of China Africa cooperation. Zero tariffs provide benefits in one direction, but create value in both directions. China has maintained its position as Africa's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years. In the first quarter of 2026, the trade volume between China and Africa reached 646.56 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 23.7%. Among them, China's imports increased by 14.6% year-on-year, and exports increased by 29% year-on-year; From January to February, China's new direct investment in Africa increased by 44% year-on-year. Zero tariff aggregation of Africa's aspirations and China's needs is an important driving force for China Africa industrial division of labor cooperation and complementary integration of industrial chains. It not only expands African countries' exports to China, promotes the linkage and integration of China Africa trade, industry, and investment cooperation, enhances Africa's endogenous development momentum, but also reduces the investment and production costs of Chinese enterprises in Africa, provides diversified and stable overseas supply for the development of China's new quality productivity, and enhances the resilience and competitiveness of China's supply chain.

Zero tariffs allow the fruits of China Africa cooperation to benefit the people of both sides. With China's improvement and upgrading of the "green channel" for African agricultural products to be exported to China, zero tariffs have enabled more and more high-quality African agricultural and food products such as Ethiopian coffee, Togolese cocoa, Beninese pineapple, and Rwandan dried chili to enter the homes of ordinary Chinese people, directly meeting the growing demand for high-quality and diversified consumption of domestic people and continuously enhancing the sense of gain and happiness of the Chinese and African people. As the saying goes, 'the more you think of others, the more you have; the more you interact with others, the more you have.' Zero tariffs create employment and increase income for Africa, and will also further open up the vast African market for Chinese products.

The great road is not alone, and the actions of all lead to great success. Zero tariffs are the "golden calling card" of China Africa cooperation in the new era, and will become an inexhaustible engine for high-quality development of China Africa cooperation in the test of history, the times, and the people.