Online Reporter
By Gao Junya-CGTN reporter
China has reaffirmed its commitment to high-level opening up at this year’s Two Sessions, the annual meetings of the country’s top legislature and top political advisory body.
In his government work report unveiled at the Two Sessions, Chinese Premier Li Qiang says China will open wider to the outside world. Efforts will be made to expand market access and open up more areas.
In an increasingly uncertain global environment marked by economic fragmentation and geopolitical tensions, China’s steadfast commitment to shared development, world peace, and a community with a shared future for humanity serves as an important force of stability.
A clear example is China’s decision to grant zero-tariff treatment to exports from all 53 African countries with diplomatic ties starting May 1, 2026.
This policy reflects the broader direction of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, which prioritises high-quality growth, stronger domestic demand, and deeper economic integration with global partners.
At a time when protectionism and geopolitical uncertainty are reshaping the world, China’s decision sends a strong signal in support of openness and shared development.
For African economies, duty-free access to the Chinese market represents more than expanded trade opportunities.
By lowering export costs, the policy enhances the competitiveness of African products in one of the world’s largest consumer markets.
More importantly, zero tariffs create incentives for structural transformation.
Many African economies remain reliant on raw commodity exports, a long-standing constraint on sustainable growth. Stable access to China’s vast market encourages investment in local processing, manufacturing, and value-added production, supporting industrialisation goals outlined in the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Increased export potential is also going to attract investment, technology transfer, and skills development, reinforcing existing China-Africa cooperation.
Access to China’s unified national market of over 1.4 billion consumers can also stimulate job creation across the continent.
Recent progress in bilateral cooperation illustrates this trend. The China-Africa Economic Partnership Agreement for Shared Development signed with South Africa demonstrates how trade liberalisation and industrial investment can work together to promote modernisation and employment growth.
In Gauteng Province, South Africa’s economic hub, Chung Fung Metal’s 156-million-US-dollar investment in a new steel factory, has created over 1 000 jobs.
Chery International’s acquisition of a plant in Pretoria and a 150-million-US-dollar investment by Haier’s local subsidiary Kwikot in Benoni, have together protect more than 1 400 existing jobs, and created many others, especially for the youth.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, while 2026 has been designated the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Against this backdrop, the zero-tariff initiative highlights a partnership increasingly focused on long-term development rather than short-term trade gains.
By aligning China’s market openness with Africa’s industrial ambitions, China and Africa are advancing modernisation through cooperation, offering a practical example of South-South partnership in an increasingly uncertain world.
Gao Junya produces CGTN’s podcast China-Africa Talk.
