China has announced plans to begin full implementation of a
zero-tariff scheme for 53 African countries, including Nigeria, under the
Changsha declaration — a move that deepens economic cooperation within the
forum on China-Africa cooperation (FOCAC) framework.
China’s ministry of foreign affairs announced the plan in a
statement on Thursday, following a meeting between senior Chinese officials and
African foreign ministers in Changsha.
“We, the representatives of the People’s Republic of China,
53 African countries and the African Union Commission, guided by the consensus
reached by our leaders during the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on
China-Africa Cooperation, gathered in Changsha to advance the full
implementation of the Beijing Declaration on jointly building an all-weather
China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era,” the statement
reads.
“We agree that the rise and growth of the Global South
represents the trend of the times and the future of development. China and
Africa are both important members of and staunch forces in the Global South.
“We call on all countries, especially countries in the
Global South, to work together to build a community with a shared future for
mankind, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and implement the
Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global
Civilization Initiative.
“We commend the initiative of jointly building an
all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era for its
positive significance in safeguarding solidarity and cooperation of the Global
South and defending multilateralism.
“We agree that the frequent occurrence of unilateralism,
protectionism and economic bullying has created severe difficulties for the economic
and social development and the improvement of livelihood in African countries
and other developing countries. This is a pressing challenge that members of
the Global South including China and African countries must address.
“Given that certain countries’ attempt to disrupt the
existing international economic and trade order by tariffs undermines the
common good of the international community, we call on all countries, the
United States in particular, to return to the right track of resolving trade
disputes through consultation based on equality, respect and mutual benefit.”
The Chinese ministry said the international community should
give “prioritised attention” to the economic difficulties and development
challenges faced by African countries.
It said development assistance to African countries should
be effectively increased, “not unilaterally slashed, to provide continued
support to help African countries improve people’s livelihood, reduce poverty
and boost economic and social development”.
CHINA TO SUPPORT 2063
AU AGENDA
The statement said China will collaborate with Africa to
support the African Union’s Agenda 2063, focusing on modernisation and
sustainable development.
“China is ready to, through negotiating and signing the
agreement of China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development, expand
the zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines to all 53 African
countries having diplomatic relations with China, or all African countries
except Eswatini, to welcome quality products from Africa to the Chinese
market,” the statement said.
“For the least developed countries in Africa, on top of the
zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines announced at the 2024
Beijing Summit of FOCAC, China will roll out measures on market access,
inspection and quarantine, and customs clearance to boost trade in goods,
enhance skills and technical training, and expand the promotion of quality
products.
“China is ready to work with Africa to deepen the
implementation of the ten partnership actions for modernisation, prioritise
cooperation in such key areas as green industry, e-commerce and e-payment,
science and technology, and artificial intelligence, and enhance cooperation in
security, finance and the rule of law, so as to promote high-quality
development of China-Africa cooperation.”
The statement added that China and Africa will strengthen
solidarity under FOCAC and implement initiatives such as the ‘2026 Year of
People-to-People Exchanges’.
In September 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed five
memoranda of understanding (MOUs) during a meeting with President Xi Jinping of
China.
Addressing world leaders at the opening session of the 2024,
Tinubu said the China-Africa relationship had become “a true testament” to the
power of mutual respect and cooperation.
On January 9, Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs,
said the MoUs signed between Nigeria and China are at various stages of
implementation.
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