By Héribert‑Label Élisée ADJOVI / Chairman of the Xi’an Think Tank for Sino‑African Cooperation and Development – Chairman of the African Journalists Caucus for the Global South Community of Shared Future – Chairman of the Pan‑African Journalists Caucus
Introduction Ladies and Gentlemen, in 2025, Sino‑African trade surpassed the historic threshold of USD 348 billion, confirming China as Africa’s leading partner for the 16th consecutive year. Yet behind this impressive figure lies a crucial question: how can this commercial power be transformed into a balanced partnership that fosters shared prosperity? Benin, through its strategic partnership signed in 2023 following the State Visit of President Patrice TALON to China, embodies this ambition. And in this pivotal year 2026, dedicated to human and cultural exchanges, we must inscribe in golden letters the Sino‑African community of shared destiny.
After setting this introductory framework, I now invite you to explore, in about ten minutes, concrete examples of successful governance in Sino‑Beninese relations, as well as the challenges and prospects along this path. It is in this interplay between achievements and challenges that the true strategic scope of this cooperation emerges.
I – Achievements of Bilateral Cooperation
1. Visible and emblematic infrastructure The Chinese Cultural Center, the first of its kind built by China in Africa; the Grand Sino‑Beninese Friendship Stadium General Mathieu Kérékou; the new Ministry of Foreign Affairs building; the Administrative Tower; the Godomey interchange, the only one in Benin to date; the Agricultural Pilot Center of Sèmè‑Kpodji; the Cotonou Conference Palace; and the modernization of the Autonomous Port of Cotonou, the flagship of Benin’s economy. These tangible achievements embody the depth of Sino‑Beninese cooperation.
2. Strategic trade and agriculture China is a strategic trade partner for Benin, accounting for 20% of exports and 15% of imports in 2025. It is a key supplier of equipment, foodstuffs, and manufactured goods, contributing to market diversification. About forty Chinese companies are also present in Cotonou, generating around 5,000 local jobs.
Cotton, the backbone of Benin’s economy (40% of GDP, 80% of export revenues), illustrates the depth of cooperation. Through technology transfer and mechanization, Benin has become Africa’s leading producer with over 600,000 tons annually. The 4th Chinese technical assistance mission, composed of six experts, arrived in Cotonou on April 15, 2026, to select cotton varieties, promote cultivation techniques, introduce agricultural machinery, and train Beninese technicians. As a result, local processing is advancing, with 40,000 tons already treated annually in the Glo‑Djigbé Industrial Zone. The challenge remains to further industrialize to capture added value from the 305,000 tons of fiber produced each year, requiring about thirty integrated textile units—a win‑win path for both sides.
Soybeans form another strategic axis: over 210,000 tons were exported to China in 2022, representing 60% of Benin’s total exports. Chinese cooperation supports agricultural modernization and local processing (oil, milk, meal), creating jobs and added value in a mutually beneficial logic.
Finally, the “Sugarloaf” pineapple reached a historic milestone with its first official export to China in March 2026. Supported by agreements and tariff exemptions, it has become a source of pride for Beninese agribusiness in the Chinese market.
3. Digital and energy transition Sino‑Beninese cooperation in the digital sector, strengthened by a strategic partnership since 2023, focuses on infrastructure modernization, cybersecurity, and training. A memorandum was signed between bjCSIRT (Benin) and CNCERT/CC (China) for cyberspace security. China also supports the modernization of Beninese institutions, notably the HAAC, by providing equipment to improve media efficiency and regulation. In addition, training programs, notably with Ningbo Polytechnic Institute, are organized for Beninese teachers and technicians, aiming to improve education and employability.
Sino‑Beninese cooperation is also intensifying in the energy transition, focusing on green development, solar power, and technology transfer. For “Green Energy” (Solar), solar power plant projects are underway to improve access to electricity, particularly in rural areas. For “Blue Energy” (Sustainable Development), cooperation extends to coastal resource management, maritime transport, and port infrastructure modernization. The Chinese Embassy in Benin has also provided solar systems to ensure uninterrupted power supply to certain public services, illustrating support for the local energy transition.
4. The Benin–Niger Pipeline (PENB) The Benin–Niger Pipeline is a strategic oil pipeline of nearly 2,000 km, inaugurated in March 2024, linking Niger’s Agadem oil fields to the port of Sèmè‑Kpodji in Benin for international crude exports. It is the longest pipeline in Africa, designed to transform Niger’s export capacity and strengthen Benin’s role as a regional energy hub. According to forecasts, Benin would earn about USD 490 million (300 billion CFA francs) over 20 years from this pipeline, or nearly USD 25 million per year, in addition to transit fees, port revenues from Sèmè‑Kpodji, and thousands of jobs created. These are sufficient reasons for stakeholders to work on smoothing out differences, for the benefit of the peoples concerned.
5 – Development Aid and Social Cooperation As part of development aid, China has released more than 100 billion CFA francs in government assistance since 1972, financing over 30 infrastructure projects. In terms of health cooperation, since 1978, 28 Chinese medical missions have been sent to Benin. Moreover, since March 2, 2026, the first Traditional Chinese Medicine service in Benin has begun operating at the Mono Departmental Hospital. Supported by the Chinese medical mission, this department is equipped with professional tools such as acupuncture and cupping. The service focuses on treating chronic pain and musculoskeletal diseases through acupuncture and cupping, welcoming more than 15 patients per day.
In education and culture, 13 cooperation agreements were signed in 2023, strengthening training and investment. While the achievements of Sino‑Beninese cooperation are undeniable, it still faces major challenges and opens new perspectives that deserve to be explored with clarity and ambition.
II – Challenges and Prospects of this Cooperation Sino‑Beninese cooperation, rich in achievements, now stands at a strategic turning point. The first challenge is industrialization and local processing: moving from raw exports of large stocks of cotton, soybeans, pineapples, or cashew nuts to integrated production that creates added value and jobs in Benin. The industrial zones of Glo‑Djigbé and Sèmè‑Kpodji embody this ambition.
The second challenge is trade rebalancing: Benin’s trade balance remains in deficit. However, the zero‑tariff policy on 100% of Beninese products exported to China as of May 2025 opens a historic window to reverse the trend. It should be noted that Benin already benefited from 98% tariff exemption on its exports to China since January 2025.
The third axis is skills and technology transfer. The goal is to ensure that agricultural, industrial, and digital projects sustainably strengthen local expertise by training a new generation of Beninese technicians, engineers, and entrepreneurs.
The fourth perspective is diversification of exchanges. Beyond existing sectors, others such as sugar and palm oil must be revived, while exploiting the country’s eight agro‑ecological zones to broaden the range of “Made in Benin” products.
Finally, the partnership must be anchored in future sectors: digital, cybersecurity, renewable energy, and energy transition. If fully realized, these projects will modernize cities, revitalize rural areas, and strengthen Benin’s energy and economic independence.
III – The Expertise of the Xi’an Think Tank for Sino‑African Cooperation and Development The expertise of the African intellectuals’ Think Tank, which I have the honor to chair, lies in its ability to: - Analyze and anticipate the challenges of industrialization and trade rebalancing. - Propose strategic solutions for local transformation and sector diversification. - Facilitate skills and technology transfer by connecting academic institutions, economic actors, and diplomatic partners. - Support governance with clear, protocol‑ready recommendations adapted to ministries, embassies, and international agencies. - Institutionalize partnerships by embedding Sino‑African cooperation in a sustainable logic of shared prosperity.
Conclusion Sino‑Beninese cooperation, beyond figures and infrastructure, is a human and strategic endeavor. It reminds us that true success lies not only in signed partnerships, but in the ability to transform these achievements into shared prosperity, economic independence, and cultural influence. The challenges are real, but they are also opportunities to build a future where Benin, strengthened by its alliances and talents, asserts itself as a key player in the Sino‑African community of shared destiny.
In this regard, the Xi’an Think Tank for Sino‑African Cooperation and Development positions itself as a laboratory of ideas and a strategic catalyst, capable of transforming achievements into concrete prospects for a balanced and win‑win future.