The Chinese Foreign Ministry has announced that Beijing will grant zero tariffs on all tariff lines for the 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations with.
This came out at the Ministerial meeting of Coordinators of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Changsha.
South Africa is represented by the International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola.
The gathering seeks to push for the implementation of the outcomes of the 2024 FOCAC Summit and boost trade prosperity, industrial chain cooperation and development cooperation.
#SAinChina🇿🇦🇨🇳 | Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola, Meeting with his counterpart, Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Wang Yi in Changsha, 11/06/2025.#SAChinaRelations🇿🇦🇨🇳#BilateralRelations
📷: Katlholo Maifadi/DIRCO pic.twitter.com/dTh2N7TDsM
— DIRCO South Africa (@DIRCO_ZA) June 11, 2025
China remains Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years.
President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed that China will grant zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent of tariff lines to all least developed countries with which it has diplomatic relations.
China has also proposed five initiatives on promoting high-quality development of China-Africa cooperation, including upholding solidarity among Global South nations, advocating free trade, and promoting cultural exchanges.
Meanwhile, Minister Lamola says Pretoria’s participation at FOCAC is part of cementing bilateral and multilateral relations.
🎥 | Minister Lamola gives feedback on the FOCAC Ministerial Meeting, highlighting its objectives and the key discussions they had on moving Africa forward. #FOCAC#AfricaChinaRelations#SAChinaRelations pic.twitter.com/VeBVpo8GVn
— DIRCO South Africa (@DIRCO_ZA) June 11, 2025