China's trade 'warm breeze' blows towards the least developed countries

Beijing, November 16th (Xinhua) -- At the just concluded China International Import Expo, a batch of characteristic products from the least developed countries received widespread attention. With the help of this platform, these "southern goods" that have come from afar have found the "key" to open up the Chinese market and more possibilities for integration into global trade.

Behind this is the trade "warm breeze" of mutual benefit and win-win situation in China, which is continuously blowing towards the world's least developed countries.

According to United Nations data, by the end of 2024, the total population of the least developed countries accounted for about 14% of the global population, but their global share of GDP was less than 2%, and their trade volume accounted for only 1%. Whether these countries can better integrate into international trade and share the dividends of globalization not only affects their own development direction, but also affects the balance and stability of the global economy.

As the world's largest developing country, China has always placed the promotion of common development in an important position of international cooperation and is committed to sharing development opportunities with all countries. Starting from December 1, 2024, China will implement a 100% zero tariff policy for the least developed countries, including 33 African countries.

Experts point out that this directly lowers the threshold for products from the least developed countries to enter the Chinese market. From African coffee and nuts to South Asian handicrafts, these products that carry the livelihoods of local people have been able to enter the vast Chinese market more smoothly.

In addition to zero tariff measures, China has also improved the trade level of these countries by promoting trade facilitation and providing cross-border e-commerce support, and the improvement of such "soft environment" is particularly important for the least developed countries with weak infrastructure.

Open platforms such as the CIIE also play a key role in it. This year's CIIE has set up a special zone for products from the least developed countries for the first time, with 163 companies from the least developed countries participating, a year-on-year increase of 23.5%; At the same time, expand the African product zone and provide some free exhibition booths and tax incentives for the retention of exhibits, providing comprehensive convenience for enterprises from the least developed countries to participate in exhibitions.

Previously, various products from the least developed countries such as honey from Zambia, peanuts from Nigeria, and cashews from Tanzania have crossed the ocean through this platform and reached the hands of Chinese consumers. Through eight years of practice, the CIIE has also become an important platform for enterprises from the least developed countries to enter the Chinese market and integrate into the global value chain.

From the China International Import Expo to the China Africa Economic and Trade Expo, with the help of a series of open platforms, China continues to provide low threshold and efficient display and sales channels for the least developed countries, accurately matching the supply of the least developed countries with the demand of the Chinese market, and improving the accessibility and success rate of trade.

More importantly, the internal growth drivers of the least developed countries are stimulated as a result. Stable export revenue allows these countries to invest in education, healthcare, and infrastructure. By integrating into the global industrial chain, they also have the opportunity to learn technology and management experience, gradually achieving industrial upgrading. The huge demand in the Chinese market is also guiding it to shift from simply exporting to developing characteristic manufacturing industries and enhancing product added value.

The "World Openness Report 2025" released at this year's CIIE shows that from 1990 to 2024, China's openness index jumped from 0.5891 to 0.7634, an increase of nearly 30% in more than 30 years, and the growth rate remained among the top in the world. Against the backdrop of overall tightening of global openness, China's opening-up has expanded against the trend.

The "15th Five Year Plan" proposal, which was just approved at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, proposes to expand high-level opening up to the outside world, create a new situation of win-win cooperation, and emphasize "promoting reform and development through opening up, sharing opportunities and common development with countries around the world".

In the future, a more inclusive, open, and dynamic Chinese mega market will help more developing countries embark on the fast lane of development.