On March 26, during the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, China and Nigeria, which ranks first in terms of population and economy, signed the Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Common Development. This is also the 34th framework agreement signed between China and African countries. It is not only a cooperation document, but also a clear signal that China-Africa economic and trade cooperation has reached an important historical node that connects the past and the future.

Looking back on where it came from, China-Africa economic and trade cooperation has experienced a clear "triple jump". From the stage of unilateral preferential trade in which China implemented zero-tariffs on goods exported to China from African least developed countries at the beginning of this century, to the stage of bilateral free trade pilot signing free trade agreements with Mauritius and other countries, the "highway" of China-Africa trade cooperation continues to expand. Today, with the signing of multiple framework agreements and the upcoming major measure to fully implement zero tariffs on 53 African countries that have established diplomatic relations on May 1, China-Africa cooperation is steadily moving towards a new stage of regional free trade docking and integration.

Professor Song Wei from the School of International Relations at Beijing Foreign Studies University commented that the signing of the China-Nepal Framework Agreement is an "obvious signal of institutional upgrading." It marks that China-Africa economic and trade cooperation is shifting from "unilateral opening up and unilateral preferential treatment" to a new stage of bilateral institutionalized cooperation with "rule consultation, topic negotiation, and institutional convergence" as the core. If unilateral preferential treatment solves the market access issue of "whether it can come in", then the docking of bilateral systems solves the sustainable development issue of "how to stabilize long-term development and under what rules to reduce cooperation risks."

As a country with significant population and economy in Africa, Nigeria's sample significance is self-evident. In 2024, China and Nepal upgraded their bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Now the signing of the framework agreement is tantamount to establishing a model model of institutional cooperation among major economies in China and Africa. This shows that the focus of China-Africa cooperation is shifting from pursuing trade volume growth to development-oriented regular arrangements-not only helping Nigeria's manufacturing and agricultural transformation and upgrading, but also connecting the linkage chain of "trade-investment-industrial upgrading" through institutional design.

The upcoming full implementation of the zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries that have established diplomatic relations has injected strong momentum into this round of institutional upgrading. Song Wei pointed out that the most direct effect of this policy is to provide a solid "demand traction" and "interest foundation" for the implementation of bilateral agreements such as China and Nepal. China's ultra-large market will help African countries reap development benefits earlier and better cope with external economic and trade shocks. For Nigeria, this means that its improvement in export capabilities can be more directly transformed into tangible development drivers. More importantly, the zero-tariff policy echoes the arrangements in the fields of manufacturing, green development, digital trade and other fields in the China-Nepal Framework Agreement, forming a complete closed loop of cooperation from "expanding market access" to "investment-led trade."

The more far-reaching significance is that China's pioneering exploration of the full implementation of zero tariffs by countries that have diplomatic relations with Africa, as well as bilateral framework agreements such as China and Nepal, are conducting a "rule preview" for the seamless connection between China and the African Continental Free Trade Zone (AfCFTA) in the future. Song Wei believes that this is equivalent to trying first in the connection of rules, supporting Africa's trade integration process with practical actions, and paving the way for the future integration of China-Africa regional free trade.

Taking the China-Nepal Framework Agreement as a new starting point, the "construction map" for deepening economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa has become increasingly clear. Song Wei predicts that at the level of trade and investment, China-Africa cooperation will shift from simply expanding access to investment-driven trade, allowing more African high-value-added processed products to enter the China market and deepening industrial chain coordination. At the level of rule docking, the next stage will focus on breaking down non-tariff barriers, promoting mutual recognition of product standards, and upgrading the customs certification system, and creating a higher-level "green channel" for trade. At the level of industrial chain integration, cooperation will shift from traditional trade in goods to relying on local industrial parks to achieve value added and promote full-chain collaboration. It will not only enhance Africa's export capacity of industrial manufactured goods, but also encourage more China companies to go to Africa. Invest and build factories. At the same time, new business formats and new models such as digital trade will also become important breakthroughs in China-Africa cooperation.

An agreement connects the hearts and minds of China and Africa; a policy stimulates trade. From building a "bridge" for cooperation through unilateral preferential treatment, to launching pilot projects for bilateral free trade, to now the "regular road" of regional integration marked by the framework agreement, China-Africa cooperation is building a community with a shared future with mutual benefit and common development with unprecedented depth and breadth. This is not only the smooth flow of logistics and trade, but also the deep connection of development concepts and future opportunities, contributing a vivid and vivid sample of South-South cooperation to building a high-level open world economy.

Source: International Business Daily

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