Chinese President Xi Jinping has conveyed a formal message of congratulations to African leaders gathered for the Thirty Ninth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, reaffirming Beijing’s stated commitment to deepening economic and diplomatic engagement with the continent. According to a report published on 14 February 2026 by Xinhua News Agency, President Xi addressed his message to João Lourenço, President of Angola in his capacity as rotating Chairperson of the African Union, and to Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
The African Union, comprising 55 member states, convenes annually to deliberate on continental priorities including economic integration, institutional reform, peace and security, and implementation of Agenda 2063. The 39th summit takes place amid shifting geopolitical alignments and growing calls for stronger Global South representation within multilateral governance structures.
In his message, President Xi stated that global transformations are accelerating and that countries of the Global South are assuming a more prominent role in international affairs. He commended the African Union’s efforts over the past year to advance continental integration and to safeguard what he described as Africa’s legitimate rights and interests. Central to these integration efforts is the African Continental Free Trade Area, which entered into force in 2019 and seeks to create a single continental market for goods and services.
A significant policy announcement contained in the message concerns China’s intention to implement zero tariff treatment for 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations, effective from 1 May 2026. China maintains diplomatic relations with all African states except Eswatini, as reflected in official records of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China available at fmprc.gov.cn. Chinese authorities have previously extended tariff exemptions to African least developed countries, including commitments made under the Forum on China Africa Cooperation. The proposed extension to 53 countries would broaden the scope of such preferential access.
President Xi also indicated that China would continue negotiations and signing of economic partnership arrangements focused on shared development, while further expanding access for African exports by upgrading what Chinese authorities describe as a green channel to facilitate customs procedures.
China has remained Africa’s largest bilateral trading partner for more than a decade. Official Chinese statistics report that bilateral trade exceeded 280 billion United States dollars in 2023. Independent data compiled by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development confirm the scale of this commercial relationship, while also noting ongoing structural imbalances in trade composition, with many African economies exporting primary commodities and importing manufactured goods.
This latest announcement comes within a longer historical context. Diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and African states date back to the 1950s, expanding significantly during the decolonisation era. Institutional cooperation was formalised through the establishment of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation in 2000, which continues to serve as a key platform for dialogue and economic coordination.
For African policymakers and producers, the potential impact of expanded tariff free access will depend on factors including industrial capacity, infrastructure, compliance with standards, and alignment with continental development strategies. Preferential access to external markets has often been viewed as one element within broader strategies aimed at diversification, value addition, and regional value chain development under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
The African Union summit itself is expected to address matters extending beyond external partnerships, including conflict resolution efforts in various regions, institutional financing reforms, and progress under Agenda 2063. Engagement with international partners such as China is generally framed within this broader continental vision rather than as isolated bilateral initiatives.
President Xi concluded his message by expressing China’s readiness to deepen cooperation and to promote what Chinese diplomacy terms a community with a shared future for humanity. Further operational details regarding tariff schedules and implementation procedures are expected to emerge through formal trade notifications and bilateral mechanisms in due course.
