China's trade with African countries hit a record high in the first five months of this year, reaching 963.21 billion yuan (about 134 billion U.S. dollars), up 12.4 percent year on year, according to the latest data from China's General Administration of Customs (GAC).
Specifically, China's exports to Africa rose 20.2 percent from a year ago to 599.57 billion yuan in the first five months, while its imports from Africa gained 1.6 percent to 363.64 billion yuan.
Since the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000, China has expanded its economic and trade cooperation with Africa and has been the largest trading partner to Africa for 16 consecutive years.
The trade volume between China and Africa exceeded two trillion yuan (278 billion U.S. dollars) annually in 2024, growing for the fourth consecutive year.
"The China-Africa trade index formulated by the Chinese customs authorities has rapidly risen from the base value of 100 points since the establishment of FOCAC in 2000. It exceeded 1,000 points in 2023 and reached 1,056.53 points in 2024, fully demonstrating the strong vitality of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation," said Lyu Daliang, the GAC's spokesman, in an interview with China Central Television on the occasion of the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province.
In recent years, the trade in agricultural products between China and Africa has been continuously expanding, with imports and exports exceeding 70 billion yuan for the first time in 2024.
In the first five months of this year, China imported agricultural products worth 15.83 billion yuan from Africa, while its exports of pesticide formulations and agricultural machinery to Africa increased by 12 percent and 41 percent respectively.
Since 2022, Africa has always been the largest market for China's exports of goods for overseas contracted projects. In the Jan-May period of 2025, China's exports to Africa in this way reached 12.59 billion yuan, an increase of 46.5 percent year on year.
In the first five months of this year, China's exports of ships and marine engineering equipment, construction machinery, and electric motors and generators to Africa increased by 41.6 percent, 58.5 percent and 51.1 percent year on year respectively.
China-Africa trade hits new high in first five months of 2025
China-Africa trade hits new high in first five months of 2025
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday China is willing to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and advance the China-Lesotho strategic partnership.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane in the capital of Lesotho.
During the meeting, Wang congratulated Lesotho on the 60th anniversary of its independence this year, and spoke highly of Lesotho government's efforts to prioritize economic development and steer the African country onto a path of sustainable growth. Since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024, the two sides have advanced cooperation under the 10 partnership action plans unveiled at the summit, successfully implementing a number of key projects to effectively promote Lesotho's development and revitalization, Wang said.
China stands ready to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and push for greater development of the China-Lesotho strategic partnership, he added.
Calling on the two sides to firmly support each other, Wang said that China will accelerate the implementation of its zero-tariff policy for African countries, including Lesotho, expand bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, facilitate broader access of Lesotho's specialty products to the Chinese market, and continue to support Lesotho's national development.
China will continue to stand firmly with African countries, uphold justice for the Global South, including Lesotho, oppose unilateralism and acts of bullying, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang said.
On his part, Matekane said during the meeting that Lesotho cherishes its friendship with China and the strategic partnership between the two countries, and expressed gratitude for China's valuable support for the development of African countries, including Lesotho.
Lesotho firmly adheres to the one-China principle and resolutely supports China in safeguarding its core interests, he said, noting that his country stands ready to strengthen strategic mutual trust with China, expand people-to-people exchanges, jointly implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, manufacturing and energy.
Matekane stressed that China's zero-tariff policy for African products will inject new impetus into Lesotho's development. He also expressed Lesotho's willingness to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS to jointly address global challenges.
On the same day, Wang also held talks with Lejone Mpotjoana, minister of foreign affairs and international relations of Lesotho.
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
