ANALYSIS: Why Africa should turn China’s new trade opening into gains
For decades, Africa’s relationship with major global powers has often been shaped by aid, loans and diplomacy spoken in the language of strategy.
However, the conversation is changing with African countries asking tougher question such as: which country is investing in infrastructure, which is opening markets and which is creating opportunities for industrial growth?
Another important question is perhaps: which country sees Africa as a long-term partner rather than a mere source of raw materials?
These questions dominated discussions at a recent forum organised by the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos.
The event had the theme: “The Successful Practice of Principles of Sincerity, Real Results, Amity, and Good Faith in Africa”.
Analyst have observed that the global order is undergoing shifts, as protectionism is rising and trade tensions between major economies continue to reshape supply chains.
Financing conditions are tightening globally, while developing nations struggle with debt pressures, unemployment and slowing industrial growth.
For Africa, the moment presents both uncertainties and opportunities.
It is within this context that China is intensifying engagement with the continent under a framework built around sincerity, real results, amity and good faith.
China is positioning itself as Africa’s strategic economic partner at a time when many nations are rethinking old alliances.
Chinese Consul General in Lagos, Ms Yan Yuqing, described the principles as the foundation of China’s relations with Africa.
“Sincerity refers to the deep affection and genuine care the Chinese people have always shown toward their African friends,” she said.
According to her, China’s cooperation with Africa is not subject to any political conditions and does not involve interference in African affairs.
She explained that “real results” means that China honours its commitments through projects aimed at industrialisation and agricultural modernisation.
“Every cooperative project genuinely benefits the African people,” Yan said.
She added that “amity” reflected the closeness between Chinese and African peoples, while “good faith” embodied mutual respect and win-win cooperation.
Her remarks reflected China’s broader diplomatic messages to Africa in recent years.
At the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, President Xi Jinping elevated China’s ties with African countries to what he described as “an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era”.
The summit also introduced new partnership initiatives covering industrialisation, healthcare, agriculture, trade and digital innovation.
Perhaps the biggest development is China’s decision to implement a zero-tariff policy for exports from 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to Beijing.
The policy, which took effect on May 1, 2026, is generating debate among economists, diplomats and trade analysts.
Yan described the initiative as epoch-making in the history of China-Africa relations and international relations.
“This policy is a strategic decision taken by China in the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan to balance domestic and international imperatives.
“It is a major step in how China upholds the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests with Africa.
“As protectionism and unilateralism are on the rise, China is putting sincerity, real results, amity and good faith to practice and pursuing the greater good for China-Africa cooperation,” Yan said.
For many African countries struggling to expand exports and diversify their economies, the policy potentially offers access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets.
In a recent article, Prof. Efem Ubi said the significance of Africa to China was reflected in the numerous bilateral, multilateral and regional agreements Beijing had signed with almost all African countries.
Ubi is a Professor of International Relations/Strategic Studies and China-Africa Studies at the Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, China.
He said that the agreements underscored Africa’s prominent place in China’s foreign policy calculations.
Ubi, a former Director of Research and Studies at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, said that China’s zero-tariff policy for Africa was not entirely new.
He described the policy as an extension of Beijing’s longstanding trade engagement with the continent.
“Prior to 2024, China had already granted 98 per cent tariff-free access to selected African Least Developed Countries,” he said.
According to him, the new policy has the potential to significantly strengthen Africa’s agricultural sector and improve food security across many countries if properly utilised.
“The policy will encourage countries to focus on adding value to agricultural products.
“By promoting the processing and packaging of agricultural goods, nations can create jobs across farming, harvesting, manufacturing and distribution,” Ubi said.
He said that such expansion could generate substantial employment opportunities, particularly in rural communities where agriculture remained the continent’s largest source of livelihood.
Ubi also said that the policy could accelerate industrialisation and manufacturing in Africa if governments would develop the capacity to maximise the opportunity.
He emphasised that without stronger industrial capacity and export-oriented production, African countries might struggle to fully benefit from expanded market access.
Dr Adetoro Banwo, Head, Chinese Unit at the University of Lagos, expressed confidence that the policy could help to shift Africa away from dependence on raw material exports, if properly utilised.
“China’s zero tariff policy offers African countries the ability to innovate their economic prowess from a raw material economy to a manufacturing and investment nation,” Banwo said.
According to him, Africa’s engagement with China has evolved significantly since President Xi Jinping introduced the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith.
He said that China’s footprint had become visible across infrastructure, healthcare, education, culture and peacebuilding efforts on the continent.
On infrastructure, Banwo cited projects such as the TAZARA railway linking Zambia and Tanzania, as well as railway development efforts in Nigeria.
“These projects have filled the infrastructure gaps in Africa, modernised the continent, allowed trade to flourish, and revived Africa’s ailing transport system.”
He also cited China’s support during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that it provided millions of vaccine doses and medical personnel to African countries.
Banwo said that beyond infrastructure and healthcare, cultural exchanges and educational partnerships had strengthened ties between Africans and Chinese citizens.
He listed programmes such as the China-Africa International Film Festival and youth innovation forums as examples of growing cultural engagement.
Much of the discussion at the forum centred on trade and industrialisation as Africa’s trade relationship with China remains heavily imbalanced.
Mr Ikenna Emewu, Editor-in-Chief of Africa China Economy Magazine, said China exported about $348 billion worth of goods to Africa, while the continent exported approximately $123 billion to China.
He noted that in Nigeria’s case, the imbalance was more pronounced,
“While China exported about $21 billion worth of goods to Nigeria, our response was $2.37 billion,” Emewu said.
According to him, the zero-tariff regime is intended to help to narrow that gap.
Drawing attention to Angola’s trade relationship with China, Emewu noted that the country enjoyed trade surplus largely because of crude oil exports to China.
He argued that the new tariff policy could help other African countries to increase exports if they could strengthen local production capacity.
“The challenge is, therefore, for African countries to work on steady local production in the various sectors to reap the gains of this new trend because the benefits of the policy extend beyond raw materials.
“Contrary to the notion that the Chinese policy is for raw materials only, the list of items cuts across raw and finished goods,” he said.
According to him, processed goods such as textiles, leather, canned seafood and fruit juices can also benefit from the Chinese market.
Emewu expressed the optimism that recent agreements involving African banks and Chinese financial institutions might make trade easier by reducing dependence on the U.S. dollar.
While trade figures and diplomatic agreements dominated some policy discussions, another dimension of China-Africa relations emerged from Mr Shen Huijun, General Manager, Southwest Regional Office of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Nig. Ltd.
For Shen, the relationship is not merely about economics or geopolitics.
“Many of our colleagues have worked and lived here for decades. For many of us, Lagos and Abuja are no longer just working locations, they have become our second home,” he said.
Shen urged that infrastructure projects should not be measured only by concrete structures but by how they would improve daily life.
He cited the Lagos Blue Line Rail and the Abuja rail system as examples of projects helping Nigerians to reduce commuting time and improve mobility.
According to him, local participation has become increasingly important in Chinese-backed projects in Nigeria.
“Many young Nigerian engineers and managers have grown into key members of our project teams.
“Some are now capable of independently managing construction, maintenance and operations.
“True cooperation is never about one side helping another side. It is about growing together, learning from each other and building a shared future,” he said.
Debates surrounding China’s role in Africa have remained intense as some critics continue to raise concerns about debt sustainability, strategic dependence and whether Africa risks becoming overly reliant on Chinese financing.
For many African governments, the priority appears less about choosing sides and more about securing practical development partnerships.
Analysts are convinced that as global economic competition intensifies, Africa’s relationship with China is likely to remain one of the defining international partnerships of the coming decades.
They believe that whether the relationship ultimately produces balanced prosperity will depend not only on China’s policies, but also on how effectively African countries strengthen local industries, expand production and negotiate from positions of long-term economic interest.
