SCIO briefing on China's imports, exports in Q1 2026

The Poster News APP:

The data mentioned just now shows the relatively good growth of trade between China and Africa. Could you please introduce the situation? In addition, starting in May, China will implement a zero-tariff policy on imported goods from 53 African countries that have established diplomatic relations with China. What positive changes do you think this will bring to China-Africa trade cooperation? Thank you.

Wang Jun:

Thank you for your questions. I would like to invite Mr. Lyu to answer.

Lyu Daliang:

No problem. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and African nations. Over the past 70 years, the scale of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation has steadily expanded, and the areas of cooperation have continuously broadened. In 2000, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was established, providing an important platform for friendly cooperation between China and Africa, and promoting rapid growth in trade between the two sides. China's imports and exports with Africa increased from 87.38 billion yuan in 2000 to 2.49 trillion yuan in 2025, rising from the tens of billions to the trillions, an increase of 27.5 times, with an average annual growth rate of 14.3%.

In the first quarter of this year, China's imports and exports with Africa totaled 646.56 billion yuan, an increase of 23.7%, with China-Africa trade remaining active. In terms of exports, African countries are currently in a phase of rapid development, with strong demand across production and consumption sectors. China's exported goods match Africa's needs, forming precise and effective supply-demand connections. In the first quarter, China's exports of intermediate goods, capital goods and consumer goods to Africa grew by 23.3%, 43.5% and 25%, respectively. In terms of imports, China fully leverages the advantages of its super-sized market, actively expands its imports of African products and has granted zero-tariff treatment on 100% of tariff lines for 33 of Africa's least developed countries that have diplomatic relations with China, thereby providing a vast market for African countries. In the first quarter, China's imports from Africa increased by 14.6%.

As you just mentioned, starting May 1 this year, China will fully implement zero-tariff measures for 53 African countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, and will further expand the access of African products to China through measures such as upgrading the green channel. This is a new move by China to expand high-level opening up, and also makes China the world's first major economy to implement full coverage zero tariffs for African countries with diplomatic relations. It will promote the industrialization and agricultural modernization of Africa, provide new opportunities for African development, and inject new momentum into the high-quality development of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.

Thank you.