China is deepening its economic and technology ties with Africa, with President Xi Jinping announcing a major trade incentive for 53 African countries at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. Beijing says the move is part of a wider push to strengthen cooperation among developing nations through trade, investment, artificial intelligence and skills development.
Highlights
- China will extend zero-tariff treatment to 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to Beijing.
- Xi Jinping is pushing stronger Global South cooperation through BRICS.
- China says more than 2,000 Global Development Initiative projects have been implemented.
- Beijing is promoting greater cooperation with BRICS members in artificial intelligence.
- China plans to support an open-source AI community within BRICS.
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China Puts Africa at the Heart of BRICS Strategy
China is placing Africa at the centre of its expanding Global South agenda, with President Xi Jinping using the BRICS Summit to outline plans for deeper economic and technological cooperation with developing countries.
Speaking at the summit in New Delhi, India, Xi described BRICS as an increasingly important platform for emerging economies and developing nations.
He said the group could play a leading role in efforts to build a more balanced international system while creating practical opportunities for cooperation among countries in the Global South.
53 African Countries Set for Zero-Tariff Access
One of the biggest announcements for Africa was China’s decision to provide zero-tariff treatment to all 53 African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing.
The move is expected to strengthen trade between China and African economies by reducing the cost of accessing the Chinese market.
Xi said Beijing would continue opening its economy and sharing opportunities created by China’s economic development with other countries.
For African exporters, the policy could create additional opportunities to increase access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets.
China Highlights Development Partnership
Xi also pointed to China’s Global Development Initiative, which was launched five years ago with a focus on development that prioritises people’s needs.
According to Chinese figures, more than 2,000 projects have been carried out in cooperation with other countries under the initiative.
More than 200,000 professionals have also received training, with programmes reaching people in more than 120 countries.
China says it intends to continue implementing the initiative alongside what it describes as high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
The objective is to give developing countries greater opportunities to participate in China’s economic expansion while supporting projects in areas such as development, skills and infrastructure.
AI Emerges as a Major Area of Cooperation
Technology was another major focus of Xi’s BRICS agenda, particularly artificial intelligence.
During the summit’s first session, the Chinese president urged BRICS countries to take a leading role in innovation-led development.
China has proposed an initiative focused on using AI to support new industrialisation across BRICS economies.
The plan would cover areas including research, practical applications, industrial partnerships and maintaining stable supply chains.
For African countries working to grow their digital economies, AI could provide opportunities to improve productivity, create new businesses and accelerate industrial development.
China Pushes Global South AI Cooperation
Xi said China had already established the World AI Cooperation Organization and international AI application cooperation centres involving BRICS members and other countries.
These platforms are intended to make it easier for developing countries to share expertise and collaborate on AI applications.
The approach could be particularly significant for African nations looking to develop local digital skills and participate more actively in the global technology economy.
BRICS AI Open-Source Community Planned
At the summit’s second session, Xi announced five initiatives aimed at strengthening the foundation of BRICS cooperation.
One of them focuses specifically on making artificial intelligence more accessible through open-source technology.
China plans to support the creation of a BRICS AI open-source community, while encouraging collaboration in developing and deploying large language models.
The initiative will also include specialised seminars and training programmes designed to build technical capacity among participating countries.
Trade and Investment Cooperation
Another initiative announced by Xi focuses on making trade and investment between BRICS members easier.
The proposed measures are aimed at improving economic links and creating a more supportive environment for businesses operating across participating countries.
For Africa, the combination of expanded market access, investment opportunities, technology partnerships and skills development could strengthen economic ties with China and other emerging markets.
A New Phase of China-Africa Engagement?
China’s latest BRICS commitments come as African countries continue looking for new markets, investment and technology partnerships to support economic transformation.
The zero-tariff arrangement could give African exporters a stronger position in the Chinese market, while cooperation in AI and industrial technology could help countries build capacity beyond traditional commodity exports.
The bigger question will be how effectively African economies convert these opportunities into jobs, businesses, technology transfer and locally driven industrial growth.
As China opens more doors for African trade and technology cooperation, the real opportunity for the continent may lie in turning access into products, skills, businesses and jobs built by Africans themselves.
