Foreign Ministry: China's zero-tariff measures are widely welcomed by African countries.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian stated on the 27th that China-Africa trade saw numerous highlights in the first half of the year. Against the backdrop of spillover effects from regional hotspots and a resurgence of unilateralism and protectionism, China's unwavering commitment to expanding high-level opening-up with zero tariffs demonstrates its responsibility as a major power, which has been widely welcomed by African countries and highly praised by the international community.

At the regular press conference that day, a reporter asked: China-Africa trade achieved remarkable results in the first half of this year, with the full implementation of zero-tariff measures with African countries with which China has diplomatic relations yielding significant results. What is the spokesperson's comment on this?

Lin Jian explained that China-Africa trade saw numerous highlights in the first half of the year: First, the total volume accelerated. The total value of China-Africa imports and exports reached 1.41 trillion yuan, the highest for the same period in history, and the total trade volume is expected to reach a new level this year. Second, the structure continued to optimize. According to statistics, 75% of China's exports to Africa are capital goods and intermediate goods, mainly productive materials rather than consumer goods to meet the needs of African industrialization and agricultural modernization. Third, the export potential of Africa to China continued to be released. In May and June, following the full implementation of zero-tariff measures for African countries with which China has diplomatic relations, China's imports from Africa reached 193.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 23.5%. To date, four major categories of African products—dried chili peppers, coffee beans, cashew nuts, and wild aquatic products—have achieved integrated regional market access.

Lin Jian stated that international trade is a two-way street, and there is no forced buying or selling. The rhetoric of "trade imbalance" is actually a rhetoric trap concocted by some with ulterior motives, attempting to disrupt friendly cooperation between China and Africa. Against the backdrop of spillover effects from regional hotspots and a resurgence of unilateralism and protectionism, China's unwavering commitment to expanding high-level opening-up with zero tariffs demonstrates its responsibility as a major power, which has been widely welcomed by African countries and highly praised by the international community.

"In the future, China will continuously improve the level of trade facilitation between China and Africa, taking concrete actions to help more high-quality and distinctive African products enter the Chinese market, injecting new impetus into building a new era of all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future," he said.