China’s ministry of foreign affairs announced the plan in a statement on Thursday, following a meeting between senior Chinese officials and African foreign ministers in Changsha.

“We, the representatives of the People’s Republic of China, 53 African countries and the African Union Commission, guided by the consensus reached by our leaders during the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, gathered in Changsha to advance the full implementation of the Beijing Declaration on jointly building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era,” the statement reads.

“We agree that the rise and growth of the Global South represents the trend of the times and the future of development. China and Africa are both important members of and staunch forces in the Global South.

“We call on all countries, especially countries in the Global South, to work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.

“We commend the initiative of jointly building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era for its positive significance in safeguarding solidarity and cooperation of the Global South and defending multilateralism.

“We agree that the frequent occurrence of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying has created severe difficulties for the economic and social development and the improvement of livelihood in African countries and other developing countries. This is a pressing challenge that members of the Global South including China and African countries must address.

“Given that certain countries’ attempt to disrupt the existing international economic and trade order by tariffs undermines the common good of the international community, we call on all countries, the United States in particular, to return to the right track of resolving trade disputes through consultation based on equality, respect and mutual benefit.”

The Chinese ministry said the international community should give “prioritised attention” to the economic difficulties and development challenges faced by African countries.

It said development assistance to African countries should be effectively increased, “not unilaterally slashed, to provide continued support to help African countries improve people’s livelihood, reduce poverty and boost economic and social development”.

The statement said China will collaborate with Africa to support the African Union’s Agenda 2063, focusing on modernisation and sustainable development.

“China is ready to, through negotiating and signing the agreement of China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development, expand the zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines to all 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China, or all African countries except Eswatini, to welcome quality products from Africa to the Chinese market,” the statement said.

“For the least developed countries in Africa, on top of the zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines announced at the 2024 Beijing Summit of FOCAC, China will roll out measures on market access, inspection and quarantine, and customs clearance to boost trade in goods, enhance skills and technical training, and expand the promotion of quality products.

“China is ready to work with Africa to deepen the implementation of the ten partnership actions for modernisation, prioritise cooperation in such key areas as green industry, e-commerce and e-payment, science and technology, and artificial intelligence, and enhance cooperation in security, finance and the rule of law, so as to promote high-quality development of China-Africa cooperation.”

The statement added that China and Africa will strengthen solidarity under FOCAC and implement initiatives such as the ‘2026 Year of People-to-People Exchanges’.

In September 2024, President Bola Tinubu five memoranda of understanding (MOUs) during a meeting with President Xi Jinping of China.

Addressing world leaders at the opening session of the 2024, Tinubu said the China-Africa relationship had become “a true testament” to the power of and cooperation.

On January 9, Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, said the MoUs signed between Nigeria and China are at various stages of .