Chinese President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory address to the 39th African Union (AU) Summit held in Ethiopia is considered to demonstrate China’s firm support for Africa’s independent development.
ADDIS ABABA, February 15 (Xinhua) – Chinese President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory address on the 39th African Union (AU) Summit resonated strongly with the African continent and the broader international community.
In his message, President Xi announced that China will fully implement zero-tariff measures for 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China from May 1, 2026. He also emphasized efforts to strengthen “green channels” for African exports.
African officials, scholars and UN representatives noted that the message demonstrates China’s firm support for Africa’s independent development.
Shared opportunities for modernization
Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Cooperation, Henry Okello Oryem, welcomed Xi’s efforts to increase trade between Africa and China. “Zero tariffs on African products to China is a special opportunity for us to increase exports to China,” he said.
Similarly, Benard Monono, acting director of the East African Development Bank, believes the policy will significantly increase Africa’s exports. “That means more manufacturing and more jobs created in Africa,” he said.
African companies targeting the Chinese market noted that new measures such as the zero-tariff policy offer new opportunities to expand trade with China and strengthen product competitiveness.
Jackson Mponela, production manager for commercial development at Tanzania Future Enterprise Company Limited, said the zero tariff initiative would significantly reduce the cost of Tanzanian products entering the Chinese market. This “gives us a price advantage and additional motivation to scale up production and improve product quality,” he said.
He added: “China-Africa cooperation is not just traditional aid or project cooperation, but rather allows African enterprises to truly participate in the modernization and development process through market, trade and industrial opportunities.”
Herman Uwizeyimana, general manager of Fisher Global in Rwanda, said: “China’s open-door policy and concrete support are one of the biggest drivers of export growth for African companies to China, making trade between Africa and China smoother and cooperation more lasting.”
Addressing the media on the sidelines of the 39th AU Summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised China’s zero-tariff policy toward African countries and appealed to “all developed countries and all countries with significant economic potential to do exactly the same.”
“Africa needs free trade in its products and, as a continent with great economic challenges, it cannot afford to be punished by restrictive trade policies and tariffs that deny the competitiveness of African products,” the UN Secretary-General said.
Prime Minister Guterres referred to the “recent rise in tariffs” and reiterated his strong support for free trade and his call for “lower tariff levels at the global level to bring about global prosperity.”
70 years of shared journey
2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and African countries, a milestone that highlights a mature, evolving and deeply rooted partnership.
“The symbolism of President Xi Jinping’s congratulations to the AU Summit is an expression of continued commitment, continued friendship and the beauty of China-Africa friendship,” said Zito Kayumba, Zambia’s Special Assistant to the President on Finance and Investment, adding, “It is expressed in action.”
Michael Ndimancho, an academic at the University of Douala in Cameroon, said Xi’s message was sincere and moving. “When I read the letter, I felt that we were a sincere and brotherly partner to Africa,” he said.
He said, “Over the years, China-Africa exchanges and cooperation in poverty reduction, food security, industrialization and sustainable development have helped Africa play a greater role in global governance.”
Thabani Moyo, a research fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s School of Business Leadership, said relations between Africa and China had taken a leap forward over the past 70 years.
Moyo said bilateral cooperation is expanding from traditional areas such as infrastructure and trade to emerging areas such as industrial upgrading, digital innovation and green energy.
He said these collaborations have strengthened Africa’s ability to become “an active player in the production and manufacturing of goods that will ultimately reach the global stage.”
Humphrey Moshi, director of the China Research Center at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, said the TAZARA train remains a strong symbol of friendship to this day.
In recent years, projects such as roads, ports, and power facilities have greatly improved the lives and economic conditions of African people.
In addition to infrastructure, Moshi said significant progress has also been made in cooperation in human capital development, which is “helping Africa build stronger spontaneous growth.”
uniting the global south
In his message, President Xi highlighted the accelerating changes in the world situation and the remarkable growth of the Global South, and praised the AU for leading African countries in advancing integration.
In the face of hegemony, unilateralism and tariff chaos, “the Global South, embodying Sino-African solidarity, is crucial for multipolarity and equity,” said Raimundo Gonçalves, an international relations expert at the Angolan China Research Association.
Zimbabwean political commentator Derek Goto said 2026 marks the beginning of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. “China’s next stage of development will focus on innovation, green growth, technology upgrades and resilient supply chains, which align directly with Africa’s industrial ambitions,” he said.
“As China prioritizes higher quality growth and expanding domestic demand, African economies that strengthen their processing and manufacturing capabilities will find it easier to integrate into these emerging sectors,” Goto added.
Looking to the future, Kenyan international relations scholar Adair Cavins said China and Africa will work together to establish a mutually beneficial and win-win model of modernization and development.
“This partnership should deliver tangible prosperity, respect sovereignty, and contribute to a just and inclusive world order in which the Global South shapes its destiny,” Mr. Cubbins said.
