African countries have been called upon to build capacity, strengthen their economies, and diversify production to maximise the benefits of China’s zero-tariff policy.

The call was made yesterday at a seminar on China’s zero-tariff and its implications for structural economic transformation in Africa, organised by the Centre for China Studies (CCS) in partnership with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), held in Lagos.

The Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Yan Yuqing, said that three-and-a-half months after implementing the China zero-tariff policy, there have been visible benefits, with China-Africa trade in the first half of this year marked by several highlights, including growth in total trade.

She said that China-Africa two-way trade totalled US207.4 billion, a record high for the first half of the year. The total trade is expected to reach a new high by the end of this year, noting that trade structure has also improved.

According to statistics, goods account for 75 per cent of China’s exports to Africa, with these being production inputs needed for Africa’s industrialisation and agricultural organisation, rather than for consumption only, adding that the potential of Africa’s exports to China continues to be unlocked.

Yuqing stated that the zero tariff policy also reflected China’s responsibility in formally safeguarding the international economic and trade order, while adding that the policy provides stable market expectations for African countries and boosts their confidence in economic growth, as well as contributes to maintaining the stability of the global trading system and creating a favourable institutional environment for China and Africa to jointly achieve modernisation.

She noted that, to promote the implementation and deliver real results of the zero-tariff initiative in China-Nigeria and China-Africa cooperation, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Yu Qinghai, outlined four key priorities: continuous improvement of product quality and supply chain stability, meeting Chinese market standards, and ensuring reliable supply volumes.