Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivers his speech at the opening ceremony of the Lanting Forum in Beijing, China, October 27, 2025./HANDOUT
China has reaffirmed its commitment to100 per cent tariff-free treatment for goods emanating from African nations, Kenya included, that it has diplomatic relations with.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the President Xi Jinping’s administration would strive to open up more opportunities for African nations under the auspices of Global Governance Initiative.
While restating that “China will open its door ever wider,” the Foreign Minister said the aim of the tariff-free treatment is to share development opportunities with more countries and peoples.
“We will fully deliver on the zero-tariff treatment for 100 per cent tariff lines given to least developed countries and African countries having diplomatic relations with China, so as to share development opportunities with more countries and peoples,” Wang Yi said in Beijing.
He was addressing the 23rd Lanting Forum, a meeting that was held to discuss how to improve global governance, expand solidarity and cooperation, and advance a community with a shared future for humanity.
The Lanting Forum is a high-level platform established by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for dialogue and exchange on major international issues.
China, he said, was also committed to implementing the 10 partnership actions for modernization with African countries that were arrived at in the last Forum on Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing in September 2024.
Besides the 100 per cent zero-tariff, China also agreed to work with Africa to establish governance experience exchange platforms. It would see Beijing set up 25 China-Africa research centers and invite 1,000 African political party members for exchanges.
It also entailed support for local African value chains, including building five industrial cooperation growth circles and establishing a service fund for in-depth economic and trade cooperation. China also committed to supporting 30 infrastructure connectivity projects, assist the African Union (AU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and develop multimodal transport systems.
Among the projects in this initiative are the Rironi-Mau Summit road and the planned Standard Gauge Railway, which is aimed to ultimately connect Kenya and its neighbours to the Atlantic Ocean, thus creating a link between the Indian Ocean to the West.
China also agreed to help Africa implement 1,000 "small and beautiful" livelihood projects, waive interest-free loans due by the end of 2024 for certain least developed countries, and contribute to partnership funds.
The partnership also entailed establishing a China-Africa hospital alliance by building joint medical centers; dispatch 2,000 medical team members and support the Africa CDC as well as implement malaria elimination projects.
The two sides also agreed to cooperate on agricultural technology and transfer, share poverty reduction and rural development experiences; ensure food security.
Other aspects include expanding cooperation in vocational education, youth, women, culture, and tourism; hold the "China-Africa People-to-People Exchange Year."
The two sides are also collaborating on addressing climate change, promoting ecological protection and cooperate on marine affairs and natural disaster prevention.
China also agreed to enhance cooperation on peace and security, and support African efforts to address security challenges and maintain regional stability.
“The pressing task is to make special arrangements to meet Africa’s aspiration as a priority,” Wang Yi said, restating China’s support for a permanent seat for Africa at the United Nations Security Council.
“As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China firmly supports the reform of the council. Upholding the right direction of this reform means increasing the representation and voice of developing countries,” the Foreign Minister said.
He stated that “China believes that the Global South not only has the will and the right but also the capacity to be a pivotal force in global governance reform.”
Wang Yi said China’s cooperation with the word was emphasised in the recent CPC Central Committee meeting.
“It was stressed at the session that China should promote high-standard opening up, create new horizons for mutually beneficial cooperation, and secure further progress in building a community with a shared future for humanity.”
“We stand ready to work with the international community, fully deliver the Global Governance Initiative, build a more just and equitable global governance system, and jointly usher in a brighter tomorrow for humanity,” the Foreign Minister said.
