In March this year, more than 800 ornamental fish from Africa arrived at Changsha Huanghua Airport in Hunan Province on a cargo flight. This marked the first-ever import of African ornamental fish through the Hunan port. To ensure smooth entry, airport customs not only guided the importer in building a new quarantine facility but also drew up a dedicated plan, enabling seamless clearance through a “7×24 hour appointment-based” customs mechanism—from unloading to inspection to pickup.

This case reflects the growing momentum in China–Africa economic and trade cooperation. In 2024, bilateral trade reached USD 295.6 billion, setting a new record for the fourth consecutive year. China has remained Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 years in a row. Backed by China’s zero-tariff policy and the innovative “industry–manufacturing–trade integration” cooperation model, the path of China–Africa trade is broadening, writing a new chapter in partnership.

Zero Tariffs Open China’s Market for African Products

Since Rwandan dried chili peppers first entered the Chinese market in 2021, chili farming has become an important export industry, directly benefiting thousands of local farmers. For Herman Uwizeimana, General Manager of Fisher Global in Rwanda, China is the top export destination. His company currently exports 200–300 tons of dried chili to China each year, with a goal of 1,500 tons.

Uwizeimana’s confidence stems from China’s zero-tariff policy:

“China is a true friend of Africa. Zero tariffs lower export costs and bring more profit margins for farmers and businesses.”

China has consistently expanded market access for African goods, creating opportunities for inclusive development. Since December 1, 2024, China has granted 100% zero-tariff treatment to all tariff lines for the least developed countries (LDCs) that have diplomatic relations with China—covering 33 African nations—making it the first major developing economy to do so.

China has also announced plans to sign Common Development Partnership Agreements with 53 African partners, extending zero tariffs on all tariff lines while further facilitating African LDC exports to China. Beyond tariff cuts, China supports African participation in global trade fairs such as the China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), helping connect African specialty products to global markets.

From Rwandan chili peppers, Kenyan avocados, Beninese pineapples, and Madagascan lamb, to Malawian peanuts, Mozambican cashews, and Ghanaian black soap, a growing variety of African goods is enriching the daily lives of Chinese consumers. According to China’s Ministry of Commerce, imports from African LDCs under the zero-tariff scheme reached USD 21.42 billion by March 2025, up 15.2% year-on-year. In Q1 alone, China’s imports of coffee from Africa surged 70.4%, while cocoa beans rose 56.8%.

Tafara, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to China, praised the policy:

“This initiative not only enables more African specialty products to enter China’s vast market but also helps advance Africa’s industrialization.”

Local Value Chain Development: Empowering African Growth

In Côte d’Ivoire’s San Pedro Province, three-wheeled trucks loaded with latex weave through rubber plantations, delivering raw material to a newly built factory. Inside, local workers skillfully operate production lines, processing fresh latex into standard rubber blocks for export worldwide.

This facility is the third rubber processing plant established by China’s Meilan Group in Côte d’Ivoire, which began production in October 2024 with an annual capacity of 100,000 tons. The group launched its first factory in 2020 in Dabou Province and followed with a 200,000-ton flagship plant in Duékoué in 2022. With two more factories coming online later this year, Meilan’s annual capacity in Côte d’Ivoire will rise to 480,000 tons.

Côte d’Ivoire is Africa’s largest natural rubber producer. In the past, limited processing capacity meant that only low-value raw latex could be exported, leaving farmers with meager incomes. Now, with Chinese investment and technology, Côte d’Ivoire is moving up the value chain—from raw material to high-value product—supporting industrial upgrading and delivering prosperity to rubber farmers.

Since the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Chinese companies have invested RMB 13.38 billion in Africa as of March 2025. China has also provided RMB 2.08 billion in loan support to African SMEs across 19 industries, benefiting about 350 enterprises and creating roughly 4,500 jobs.

Industry–Manufacturing–Trade Integration: Deepening Cooperation

According to the Blue Book on China–Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation (2025), trade patterns between China and Africa are undergoing a profound transformation:

• Agriculture and food sectors are shifting from raw material exports to deep processing.

• Manufacturing is moving from finished goods imports to localized production.

• Digital economy and tech services are emerging as new growth drivers.

• Trade is evolving from traditional exchanges to cross-border e-commerce.

The “industry–manufacturing–trade integration” model is increasingly welcomed by African nations.

Humphrey Moshi, Director of the China Studies Centre at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, noted:

“Africa’s development focus is shifting from raw material exports to high-value production. China–Africa trade is moving beyond traditional exchange into deeper industrial cooperation, co-creating added value.”

Mabouba Diagne, Senegal’s Minister of Agriculture, added:

“China is reshaping Africa’s agricultural model by establishing local processing plants.”

At the Fourth China–Africa Economic and Trade Expo, most new cooperation projects adopted the integrated model. Xu Xiangping, President of the Hunan China–Africa Economic and Trade Promotion Association, said these initiatives focus on key industrial sectors such as agricultural modernization, industrial upgrading, and new energy. With more Chinese enterprises entering Africa, this innovative cooperation model will inject lasting momentum into building a closer China–Africa community with a shared future.