Relations between Beijing and Tunis are poised for significant expansion, particularly in the critical sectors of trade and tourism. This potential was recently highlighted by former Chinese diplomat Wu Sisco in Beijing, who noted the broader prospects for cooperation between China and the Arab world. Sisco emphasized that the foundation of the relationship between Tunisia and China is built on a strong mutual understanding regarding various international and regional issues, allowing for considerable opportunities for collaboration.

Tourism stands out as a particularly promising area. Wu Sisco pointed out that Tunisia is widely recognized as a beautiful country by the Chinese, and the longstanding excellent relations between the two nations create an ideal environment for enhancing tourism exchanges. For African tourism professionals, this signals potential for increased visitor flows and collaborative marketing initiatives to tap into China’s vast outbound travel market.

Economically, the partnership is underpinned by robust trade growth. In 2024, trade between Tunisia and China reached approximately 9.2 billion Tunisian dinars, marking an 8% increase compared to 2023. Despite this progress, there remains substantial untapped export potential valued at over US$214 million for Tunisian products in the Chinese market. Key export opportunities highlighted by Tunisia’s Export Promotion Centre (CEPEX) include olive oil (around US$20 million), fishery products (US$15 million), and dates (US$2.5 million). Tapping into these areas could significantly help reduce Tunisia's trade deficit and improve the balance of trade with China.

Beyond trade and tourism, the