China announced a fresh package of preferential economic measures aimed at strengthening its partnership with Africa, as part of efforts to boost modernization, investment, and trade across the continent.
This was disclosed during the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of Outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), held in Changsha, Hunan Province, China..
President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the forum, which was read by Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the opening ceremony.
More than 100 ministerial officials from African countries, including Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, and the Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, Joseph Tegbe, attended the high-level event.
The meeting assessed the progress made since the 2024 Beijing Summit and issued the Changsha Declaration, reaffirming solidarity and cooperation among Global South countries in the face of global economic challenges.
In a significant policy announcement, President Xi pledged:
Full zero-tariff access to the Chinese market for all exports from Africa’s 53 diplomatic partners,
Special trade support for Africa’s least developed countries,
Expanded cooperation under the ‘Ten Partnership Actions’ in areas such as green industry, e-commerce, AI, security, and finance.
These initiatives aim to accelerate Africa’s development, increase strategic autonomy, and deepen regional trade integration, while also signaling China’s continued openness in contrast to rising global protectionism.
Minister Wang Yi emphasized that China-Africa solidarity is critical at a time when multilateralism and fair trade are under threat. He stated that stronger China-Africa relations would serve as a stabilizing force in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
On the sidelines of the event, the Nigerian delegation held high-level talks with Chinese officials and business leaders. Foreign Minister Tuggar expressed Nigeria’s interest in attracting more Chinese investment to drive the federal government’s Renewed Hope economic agenda.
China reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with Nigeria and the rest of Africa to promote shared development, oppose unilateralism, and enhance south-south cooperation.