In a ministerial meeting on China-Africa cooperation held earlier this month in Changsha, Hunan province, Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed President Xi Jinping’s message to all participants, pledging to extend zero-tariff treatment to all products from 53 African countries, up from the 33 countries announced at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit in September 2024. The move is widely interpreted as a clear message to the international community: China is committed to upholding the global trade system.
Beyond trade, China has also announced plans to enhance economic cooperation with Africa, such as investing in capacity-building by adopting measures and providing related training for African countries to help promote high-quality African products globally.
China’s role as Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years is no accident. In 2024, bilateral trade exceeded 2 trillion yuan ($279 billion) for the first time, underscoring the deepening economic ties between China and the continent. And China continues to build on it.
At a time when the global trade order faces unprecedented challenges, China is stepping up as a champion against protectionism, isolation and tariff wars, particularly those instigated by the United States. The uncertainties caused by unilateral tariffs imposed by the US on vulnerable economies, especially in Africa, are expected to stifle growth and perpetuate poverty in those affected countries.
Take Lesotho as an example. This small nation of 2 million people recently faced a punitive 50 percent tariff imposed by the Trump administration. Lesotho’s economy, heavily reliant on diamond and textile exports to the US, is expected to suffer a severe blow. With exports to the US totaling $237 million in 2024 — over 10 percent of its GDP — this punitive tariff significantly threatens the livelihoods and economic stability of the country’s people. The justification? Simply that Lesotho is not able to afford expensive American goods. What a merciless act that is! Such a move smacks of economic bullying rather than anything to do with fair trade. This is in contrast to China’s move to extend zero tariffs to as many African countries as possible.
China’s support for African countries extends well beyond trade. Over the past decade, it has committed to building more than $700 billion worth of infrastructure projects across Africa, which will serve as the physical backbone for growth in the region. Chinese technology firms like Huawei and Transsion are helping the continent leapfrog into the 4G/5G and mobile internet era. In agriculture, a critical sector for Africa’s prosperity, China had established 24 agricultural technology centers as of 2023, training farmers in over 300 planting and cultivation techniques.
A touching moment at the recent conference in Hunan illustrated this partnership: Musa Darboe, a Gambian farmer, traveled 12,000 kilometers to pay tribute at the tomb of Yuan Longping — China’s “father of hybrid rice” — by presenting a bag of African-grown Chinese hybrid rice. This gesture symbolizes the deep, tangible connections forged through China’s agricultural cooperation with Africa.
As the world grapples with fragmentation and rising protectionism, China’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with Africa and the wider global community offers a hopeful path forward for sustaining globalization
These support and cooperation efforts send a clear signal to the international community: China is ready to take on greater responsibility in preserving and revitalizing the global economic and trade order.
Hong Kong, as China’s international finance and trading hub, is uniquely positioned to support this mission of the nation. The special administrative region can serve as a bridge connecting China’s development model with global standards, facilitating African countries’ integration into the world economy. Hong Kong’s expertise in operating international trading mechanisms, setting standards, financing projects, providing other financial services and fostering collaboration makes it an invaluable player in this endeavor.
Furthermore, the newly established International Organization for Mediation, headquartered in Hong Kong, and the city’s robust legal system offer avenues for resolving international disputes peacefully and efficiently.
As China continues to expand its influence on the global arena, the SAR’s significance will undoubtedly grow. The pattern of China’s economic internationalization is evolving: Whereas the past 40 years were defined by global investments flowing into China, the next 40 years are likely to see Chinese firms and capital “going global”. In this shifting global economic landscape, Hong Kong will continue to play a pivotal role as a bridge between the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world.
As the world grapples with fragmentation and rising protectionism, China’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with Africa and the wider global community offers a hopeful path forward for sustaining globalization. Through enhancing trade, providing technology, building infrastructure, and deepening diplomacy, China is not only trying to stop the drift toward deglobalization but also to build a more inclusive and resilient world, one that uplifts the vulnerable and fosters shared prosperity for all peoples.
This is the kind of leadership the world needs now more than ever.
The author is a member of the Hunan Province Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Y Elites Association.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
