As 2025 draws to a close, China and Africa celebrate a transformative decade of collaboration under their comprehensive strategic partnership. This year marks 10 years since President Xi Jinping elevated bilateral relations at the 2015 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit – a partnership now driving continental infrastructure development, trade liberalization, and shared modernization goals.
Building Bridges, Literally and Figuratively
Over 100,000 km of roads, 10,000 km of railways, and nearly 100 ports built through Chinese cooperation have reshaped Africa's economic landscape since FOCAC's establishment 25 years ago. These projects facilitated a 35% increase in intra-African trade since 2015 while connecting remote communities to regional markets.
Trade Winds of Change
Building on December 2024's zero-tariff access for 33 African LDCs, China expanded duty-free treatment this June to all 53 diplomatic partners – covering 100% of tariff lines. Kenya's Africa Policy Institute analyst Dennis Munene Mwaniki notes: "This unlocks $2.8 billion in annual export potential, particularly for agricultural and mineral processing sectors."
Beyond Infrastructure
The partnership's 10-point action plan advances cooperation in green energy, healthcare, and education. Over 50,000 African students currently study in China through scholarship programs, while 45 Sino-African joint vaccine production facilities established since 2020 bolster regional health security.
As FOCAC prepares for its 2026 summit, both sides are aligning development priorities through China's Global Development Initiative and the African Union's Agenda 2063 – proving South-South cooperation can drive meaningful progress.
