In a historic gathering that signals a new era of partnership, senior representatives from China, 53 African countries, and the African Union Commission convened in Changsha this week to advance the full implementation of outcomes from the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of FOCAC, held from June 10–12, 2025, not only reviewed progress but also unveiled bold new measures destined to transform the economic and diplomatic landscape between China and Africa.
A Quarter Century of Cooperation
FOCAC, now marking its 25th anniversary, has grown into the cornerstone of China-Africa relations. Over the past two and a half decades, the partnership has evolved from modest beginnings into a comprehensive framework encompassing trade, investment, infrastructure, education, health, and cultural exchange. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, reading a congratulatory letter from President Xi Jinping, emphasized the significance of China-Africa solidarity and the need to “jointly promote modernization and build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era”.
Wang Yi’s remarks were echoed by Jean-Claude Gakosso, Foreign Minister of the Republic of the Congo and African co-chair of FOCAC, who expressed gratitude for China’s steadfast support and welcomed the ten new partnership actions for modernization announced at the 2024 Beijing Summit. Gakosso reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to implementing these outcomes to help African people realize their aspirations for a better life.
Tariff-Free Trade: A Game Changer
The headline announcement from Changsha was China’s decision to remove customs duties on goods from all 53 African countries with diplomatic ties. This sweeping move, effective since December 2024 for least developed countries (LDCs), is designed to boost African exports, stimulate industrialization, and reinforce Africa’s position in the global marketplace.
In 2024, China-Africa trade volume reached a record $295.6 billion, with bilateral trade in the first quarter of 2025 totaling $72.6 billion—a 2.7% year-on-year increase. The new zero-tariff policy is expected to accelerate this growth, providing African producers unprecedented access to the world’s second-largest economy. China has also signed 22 protocols on agricultural exports with 18 African nations, and over 2,400 food enterprises from Africa are now registered to export to China.
To further facilitate trade, China has provided RMB 17.12 billion in trade financing to support African exports and established special zones for African products at major trade expos. Cross-border e-commerce is also expanding, with online training and digital trade events connecting African entrepreneurs to Chinese consumers.
Investment and Industrialization
China’s commitment to Africa goes beyond trade. At the 2024 Beijing Summit, President Xi Jinping announced ten priority areas for cooperation between 2025 and 2027, including mutual learning, trade development, industrial partnerships, infrastructure expansion, healthcare, agriculture, security, green growth, and people-to-people exchanges. To support these initiatives, China pledged $50 billion—$29 billion in loans, $11 billion in aid, and $10 billion in public and private investment.
Since the summit, Chinese enterprises have invested RMB 13.38 billion in Africa, focusing on local value chains, manufacturing, and deep mineral processing. Agreements on avoidance of double taxation have been signed with 21 African nations, and negotiations are underway to revitalize key infrastructure such as the Tanzania-Zambia Railway.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a particular focus. China has provided RMB 2.08 billion in loans to about 350 African SMEs, creating approximately 4,500 jobs. Eighteen pairing events and 26 training courses for industrial talents have been held, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across the continent.
Infrastructure and Connectivity
Infrastructure remains a pillar of China-Africa cooperation. Since the Beijing Summit, China has provided or committed RMB 72.28 billion in development financing for African infrastructure projects. Belt and Road cooperation plans have been signed with South Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, and Kenya, and China continues to support Africa’s integration into global supply chains.
The Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, held alongside the Changsha meeting, showcased the latest achievements in connectivity, logistics, and digital infrastructure. The establishment of a Fund for In-Depth China-Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation and a China-Africa Trial Center for economic arbitration further institutionalize the partnership.
Mutual Learning and Cultural Exchange
Beyond economics, FOCAC places a strong emphasis on mutual learning and cultural exchange. In the past year, members of various African political parties visited China for governance experience sharing, and think tanks from both sides have strengthened cooperation through symposiums and research networks. The China-Africa-UNESCO dialogue on education and cultural heritage protection, as well as university exchange conferences, have deepened people-to-people ties.
Legal and judicial exchanges are also expanding, with China hosting forums and training for African legal professionals and signing conventions to establish international mediation organizations. These efforts aim to build a shared framework of governance and rule of law.
Solidarity in a Shifting Global Order
The Changsha Declaration, issued at the close of the meeting, underscores the importance of solidarity and cooperation among the Global South. Both China and Africa reaffirmed their commitment to defending international free trade, supporting global development cooperation, and promoting civilizational diversity. They also jointly opposed unilateral sanctions and tariff wars that disproportionately impact developing countries—a clear reference to recent U.S. trade policies.
Wang Yi stated, “Faced with an international situation marked by changes and turmoil, China and Africa should uphold solidarity and self-reliance more than ever.” He called on both sides to respond to global uncertainties with a stable and resilient partnership, emphasizing that “as long as the more than 2.8 billion people of China and Africa work together, they will surely achieve brilliant progress in the path to modernization”.
Tanzania’s Role and Broader African Engagement
Tanzania’s Foreign Minister, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, led his country’s delegation at the Changsha meeting, highlighting Tanzania’s active engagement in multilateral platforms and its status as a key beneficiary of FOCAC projects in health, infrastructure, education, technology, livestock, and tourism. Tanzania’s experience exemplifies the broader impact of China-Africa cooperation across the continent.
Ethiopia’s High-Level Participation
A distinguished Ethiopian delegation, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedion Timotheos (PhD), joined representatives from 53 African countries, the African Union Commission, and Chinese officials to review progress and chart the next phase of China–Africa cooperation. In his address, Minister Gedion underscored the tangible dividends of the FOCAC mechanism, highlighting its importance as a platform for South–South cooperation and Ethiopia’s steadfast commitment to its partnership with China.
“FOCAC is an important platform of cooperation for the global south, and Ethiopia attaches great importance to its longstanding partnership with China,” Gedion told the assembly, as reported by the Ethiopian Embassy in Beijing. His remarks set the tone for a meeting that would reaffirm the value of multilateralism, development assistance, and trade facilitation—principles at the core of FOCAC’s mission.
The Changsha Declaration: A Roadmap for the Global South
The meeting concluded with the adoption of the China–Africa Changsha Declaration on Upholding Solidarity and Cooperation of the Global South. This declaration reaffirmed the commitments made during the landmark 2024 Beijing FOCAC Summit and praised FOCAC as a “model of Global South cooperation.” It called for stronger multilateralism, enhanced development assistance to Africa, and greater trade facilitation—including China’s headline pledge to expand zero-tariff treatment to all 53 African countries with diplomatic ties.
The declaration also emphasized cooperation in key areas such as green development, the digital economy, science and technology, and the rule of law, aligning closely with Africa’s own Agenda 2063 and the continent’s aspirations for industrialization and modernization.
Ethiopia–China: An All-Weather Strategic Partnership
On the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, FM Gedion met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Gedion conveyed Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s greetings to President Xi Jinping and noted the strengthened momentum in the Ethiopia–China All-Weather Strategic Partnership. He welcomed the inauguration of the China–Africa–UNIDO Tripartite Center of Excellence in Addis Ababa, calling it a step forward in Africa’s industrial modernization.
Both foreign ministers agreed to accelerate FOCAC implementation and enhance coordination in multilateral platforms to amplify Africa’s voice and protect shared interests. Wang Yi reaffirmed Ethiopia’s role as a trusted partner in the Global South and BRICS, while also highlighting the tangible progress made in implementing FOCAC outcomes.
A Shared Vision for Modernization
The outcomes of the Changsha meeting represent a major step forward in realizing the vision set out at the 2024 Beijing Summit. The 35 outcomes across ten categories—ranging from mutual learning and trade prosperity to industrial chain cooperation and connectivity—demonstrate the breadth and depth of China-Africa collaboration.
As the world navigates an era of geopolitical uncertainty, the China-Africa partnership stands as a model of South-South cooperation rooted in mutual respect, shared interests, and a commitment to inclusive development. With new tariff-free trade, expanded investment, and deepening people-to-people ties, FOCAC 2025 marks the dawn of a new chapter in the all-weather friendship between China and Africa.
Source: FOCAC 2025
