UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised China's zero-tariff measures for African countries.
The 39th African Union Summit opened on Saturday (February 14) at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.
When asked by a Xinhua reporter at a press conference at the African Union headquarters, Guterres said he appreciated China's zero-tariff measures on African countries, adding, "I call on all developed countries and countries with strong economies to take the same measures."
Guterres stated that Africa needs free trade for its goods, as restrictive trade and tariff policies negatively impact the competitiveness of African products.
He said, "I have always been a firm supporter of free trade and also support lowering tariff levels globally to create a broader prospect for the development of the world economy."
According to reports from Xinhua News Agency and CCTV, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the African Union summit on Saturday, saying that the African Union is leading African countries in actively promoting the integration process and firmly defending Africa's legitimate rights and interests.
He pointed out that China will fully implement zero-tariff measures on 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations starting May 1, while continuing to promote the signing of an agreement on economic partnership for common development, and further expanding access for African products to China by upgrading the "green channel" and other measures.
Source: [Lianhe Zaobao] (https://www.zaobao.com/news/world/story20260216-8518930)