Co-authors: Guo Pan, journalist for CGTN French and Héribert-Label Élisée ADJOVI, director of the pan-African magazine "Le Label Diplomatique" and Chairman of the Xi'an think Tank for China-Africa Coopération and Development.
Introduction In 2026, China-Africa relations will reach a historic milestone. This year marks both the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and African countries and the official launch of the "China-Africa People-to-People and Cultural Exchange Year." Most importantly, starting May 1, 2026, China will fully implement zero-tariff treatment for all African countries with which it has diplomatic relations. These two major initiatives, one focused on "interests" and the other on "core values," together outline a new vision for China-Africa cooperation that benefits all people.
I. Zero tariffs: tangible benefits for African people Starting May 1, 2026, China will apply zero tariff treatment to 100% of tariff lines for the 53 African countries that have established diplomatic relations with it, covering all product categories, without any volume limits or additional political conditions. This marks the first time China has granted such a significant tariff reduction to African countries, and it is the first major developing country and the first major economy to adopt such a policy. This is not merely an abstract political statement, but a tangible benefit that translates into real advantages for the people of Africa. What are the benefits for African people? The most direct effect is a significant decrease in export costs. Take Ethiopian coffee, for example: China has become the fourth-largest importer of Ethiopian coffee. Between 2024 and 2025, Ethiopia exported over 34,000 tons of coffee to China, generating over $218 million in revenue. This cost advantage benefits approximately 5 million smallholder coffee farmers and over 25 million people working in coffee-related sectors in the country. “The zero-tariff policy makes our coffee extremely competitive in the Chinese market,” said Israel Degfa, CEO of Kerchanshe Trading PLC, recognized as the largest coffee producer and exporter in Ethiopia. He emphasized that the zero-tariff policy directly reduces export costs and enhances the price competitiveness of Ethiopian coffee. Most importantly, he highlighted the fact that the resulting market expansion is pushing the entire industrial chain to evolve towards higher standards, more professionalism and better quality. Employment and income are increasing in tandem. As the Chinese Ambassador to Guinea, Sun Yong, emphasized in an article, "The benefits of the zero-tariff policy, once passed on to the productive sector, will directly stimulate production expansion and job creation in relevant African sectors, promote poverty reduction in Africa, and allow African people to tangibly share in the fruits of China-Africa cooperation." From Rwandan coffee to Nigerian peanuts, from Tanzanian honey to Beninese pineapples, more and more high-quality African products are entering the Chinese market. Each product helps improve the livelihoods of countless African farmers and workers. The importance of the zero-tariff policy toward Africa extends beyond simply "selling products" to encompass "building capacity." Lower export costs improve the economic viability of investments and factory establishment in Africa, thereby effectively accelerating the transfer of Chinese capital and advanced technologies to the continent. In Guinea, zero tariffs are expected to foster the rapid development of local mineral processing and metallurgy industries, among others. In Kenya, the government is actively attracting Chinese companies to invest in deep processing of agricultural products, cold chain logistics, and other sectors. As more African coffee, nuts, and fruits enter the Chinese market, the resulting foreign exchange earnings can be converted into agricultural machinery, photovoltaic power plants, and industrial production lines—all essential components for the self-generation capacity required for Africa's industrialization process. In 2025, the volume of Sino-African trade reached a record high of $348 billion. Following the implementation of the zero-tariff policy, this figure is expected to continue rising, bringing more foreign exchange earnings to African countries and easing their balance of payments pressures. In the process of "zeroing" tariffs, China has simultaneously strengthened numerous accompanying measures, such as establishing "green corridors" for African exports to China and opening high-quality platforms like the CIIE (China International Import Expo) and the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, thereby accelerating the transformation of the vast Chinese market into a major opportunity for Africa. In Chinese President Xi Jinping's vision that "on the path to modernization, no country or people should be left behind," zero tariffs are not merely a reset of customs duties, but also an important symbol of China's transition from a "follower" to a "leader" role in international cooperation with Africa. It also sends a clear message to the world: openness rather than closure, mutual benefit rather than zero-sum games, are the right path to promoting global economic development.
II. Year of China-Africa Human and Cultural Exchanges: A Link Through the Heart to Deepen the Affinities Between the Chinese and African Peoples While the zero tariff policy opens the door to the Chinese market and brings economic benefits to African peoples, the China-Africa Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges 2026 opens the window of the heart, taking Sino-African friendship from an "intergovernmental" level to an "interpeople" level. Decided at the FOCAC Beijing Summit, the Year of China-Africa People-to-People Exchange marks a new stage in cooperation. It places people at the heart of the partnership, affirming that friendship between societies is the cornerstone of a lasting relationship. This initiative aims to transform the China-Africa partnership into an inclusive and sustainable, societies-based relationship. 1. Foundations and importance of human and cultural exchanges -Institutional origin The initiative stemmed from a shared political will: to establish Sino-African cooperation within a long-term framework based on mutual trust. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), as a multilateral platform, has enshrined this approach. -Historical heritage Sino-African relations are not new. They are rooted in ancient exchanges: maritime routes, Zheng He's expeditions, and the trade in silk and ivory. More recently, solidarity in anti-colonial struggles and medical and educational cooperation have strengthened this foundation. -Strategic dimension Human and cultural exchanges complement economic projects. They allow us to move beyond a utilitarian view of cooperation to promote a civilizational dialogue, where values and traditions become vectors of rapprochement. -Soft power and public diplomacy Culture is an instrument of influence. For China, it strengthens its image as a global partner. For Africa, it highlights its diversity and its role in global governance. Together, these exchanges build a people-centered diplomacy. 2. Expected Impacts on the Sino-African Strategic Partnership -Politics and diplomacy Human interaction fosters strategic trust and reduces misunderstandings. It consolidates the role of the FOCAC as a platform for global dialogue and strengthens the legitimacy of the partnership. -Economic Cultural cooperation opens up new sectors: creative industries, tourism, and the promotion of traditional knowledge. It diversifies exchanges and stimulates local economies, while creating innovative synergies. -Societal and cultural Citizens become active participants in the partnership. Scholarship programs, academic exchanges, and artistic initiatives are fostering a generation of cultural mediators. South-South solidarity is strengthened, embedding cooperation within an inclusive framework.
III. Challenges – Perspectives – Institutionalize cultural platforms: annual festivals, virtual museums, university networks. – To integrate exchanges into a sustainable framework, beyond the year 2026. – To offer the world an alternative model of cultural cooperation, based on mutual respect and civilizational complementarity. IV. What about the Sino-African model? From all of the above, it can be stated without a doubt that the promotion of exchanges between the Chinese and African peoples will have a definite positive impact on the Sino-African strategic partnership, already a model of cooperation for the Global South and a benchmark for readjusting the relationships between Western partners and the African continent. In this regard, it is worth recalling that, in terms of emblematic large-scale Sino-African projects, we have the standard gauge railway (SGR) linking Nairobi to Mombasa in Kenya, a true turning point for regional transport; the longest suspension bridge in Africa in Maputo, Mozambique, built by the China Road and Bridge Corporation; the Addis Ababa–Djibouti line, connecting landlocked Ethiopia to the sea (US$3.5 billion); the Merowe Dam in Sudan, illustrating China's predominance in African water infrastructure; the development of the national grid in Ethiopia; and the construction of social housing in Angola, among others. To this must be added all the projects developed by China in virtually every sector of activity and in the 53 countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations. In Benin, for example, the first Chinese Cultural Center in Africa, the Sèmè-Kpodji Pilot Agricultural Center, the Godomey interchange (the only one the country has to date), the Palais des Congrès (Congress Palace), and the modernization of the Autonomous Port of Cotonou—to name just a few—bear the indelible mark of Chinese cooperation. These tangible achievements have inscribed, in letters of gold, the history of 70 years of Sino-African cooperation. The China-Africa Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchange represents a people-to-people diplomacy, complementary to state-to-state diplomacy. It can transform the China-Africa strategic partnership into a holistic relationship, rooted in societies and not just elites. By valuing heritage, strengthening trust, and diversifying sectors of cooperation, this initiative paves the way for more inclusive global governance. It illustrates that the strength of international relations lies not only in infrastructure or financial flows, but also in the capacity of peoples to engage in dialogue, share, and build a common future together.
A dual engine serving the people and leading global Southern cooperation When China-Africa cooperation is built on both a "heart bridge"—people-to-people and cultural exchanges—and related "interests"—zero tariffs—then this cooperation transcends mere economic interests to become a truly sustainable and lasting strategic partnership. The primary beneficiaries of this transformation will be millions of ordinary citizens, both in China and Africa: coffee farmers, young entrepreneurs, and those who see a glimmer of hope in China-Africa cooperation. As Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated, reducing tariffs to increase trade and improve living standards perfectly illustrates China-Africa cooperation serving the people. Photo: VCG