Delegates to the African Union Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, have welcomed China's announcement of zero tariffs on African imports beginning May 1.
In the congratulatory message from Chinese President Xi Jinping to the 39th African Union Summit, the president said China will fully implement zero-tariff treatment to 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China starting from May 1, 2026.
A Ugandan foreign affairs official, who was attending the African Union Heads of State Summit that opened on Saturday, hailed the increase in trade opportunities between both sides.
"This is the most exciting announcement that Africa could receive at this particular time when we are here at the AU. You will be aware that the United States of America removed AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act), which was a cornerstone of Africa's exports to the United States of America, but this is more than a replacement for AGOA. And I think this will increase trade and opportunities for commerce between Uganda, Africa and China," said Henry Okello Oryem, Uganda's minister of state for foreign affairs in charge of international cooperation.
An African development banker urged nations to tear down trade barriers, saying cooperation is vital for the continent's role in global commerce.
"So, I really think that this kind of initiative is welcome for Africa and it is important for African nations to also play their role in the World Trade Organization and world transactions from a trade perspective. So I do believe that this kind of initiative can go a long way and all countries should really partner to make sure that the barriers to trade are removed," said Thierno-Habib Hann, managing director of the Shelter Afrique Development Bank.
African delegates welcome China's zero-tariff treatment on imports from 53 African nations
African delegates welcome China's zero-tariff treatment on imports from 53 African nations
South China's Guangdong Province is accelerating its transformation into an international medical tourism hub, positioning itself as a destination for patients worldwide seeking affordable, high-quality care.
The push follows a joint initiative announced in late March by nine Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, aimed at boosting spending by foreign tourists and enhancing exports of tourism services as part of broader efforts to expand the country's service sector.
Every day, some of the most complex surgeries are performed here. Li Zilun, deputy director of the division of vascular surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‑sen University, is among the doctors capable of carrying out these intricate procedures.
He recently completed surgery on a patient with an aortic aneurysm, a condition often described as a "time bomb" in the body’s main artery, increasingly common in aging societies around the globe. Li also specializes in highly difficult and pioneering procedures, including repairing leaks caused by failed grafts.
"This was a very challenging case. And then, we implanted the covered stent to eliminate the endoleak. Actually, the outcome was pretty good. The patient will be discharged today," said Li Zilun.
The ability to handle such complex cases -- combining international techniques with domestically produced devices -- is drawing patients from around the world to seek treatment. In addition, high safety standards and low costs are also major draws.
"Our government is encouraging innovation. So, lots of physicians -- including our vascular surgeons -- we are actively involved in the innovation that helps to increase the effectiveness and safety, and also bring down the cost," said Li.
This hospital is one of the first in Guangdong to be designated by the provincial health commission as a pilot site for building an international medical service hub.
The growing number of patients has pushed the hospital to explore new ways to transform every step -- from treatment to payment and everything in between -- into a seamless experience, reducing waiting times and delivering better care for patients.
"I think it's fast. When the patient come here for just about, I think, one week, you can solve the problem," said Xiao Haipeng, president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.
The hospital is also deepening its international cooperation with top-tier medical institutions, including those at Harvard University.
"Not just for China, for the whole globe, we are facing health care challenges -- emerging infectious disease and chronic, lung infectious diseases, and also the aging population, also the shortage of healthcare workforce," said Xiao.
In response to these challenges, China is promoting its own solutions, including aggressive innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workflows, while stepping up research and development investment and global engagement along the way.
"In recent years, the innovation in Western medicine is dramatically growing. An example of my hospital -- in the past few years, we have 140 innovations and seven of them are international leading innovations," said Xiao.
As global demand for medical tourism grows, China is positioning itself as a new destination. Official data shows that the number of foreign patients in Guangdong increased by 20 percent last year. Among them, the growth in inpatient admissions was even faster, rising by 76 percent.
Guangdong fast-tracks pilot for int'l medical service hub
