Herman Uwizeyimana, a pioneering Rwandan chilli farmer with a PhD in ecology from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, checks the growth of chilli peppers in a field in Kigali, Rwanda, December 4, 2024. (Xinhua / Ji Li)

Since Dec. 1, China has granted all least developed countries with which it has diplomatic relations, including 33 African countries, zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of their product categories, becoming the first major developing country and leading economy to adopt such a policy.

On top of the zero-tariff policy, China has introduced measures to turn its vast consumption market into a key opportunity for Africa, not least by expanding green channels for African agricultural products. It has also facilitated Africa's participation in major exhibitions like the China International Import Expo, helped connect African products to global markets, and signed economic partnership agreements for long-term, stable institutional support.

Driven by these measures, Rwandan dried chilli and coffee, Kenyan avocados, Beninese pineapples, Malagasy lamb, Malawian peanuts, and Mozambican macadamia nuts and cashews are now gracing Chinese consumers' tables.

According to the General Administration of Customs of China, in the first eight months of 2024, China imported African agricultural products worth 28.47 billion yuan (about 4 billion US dollars), up by 4.8 percent from a year earlier.

With two-way trade booming, China's vast market has also strengthened Africa's industrial chains and added value to its products. Michel Anondraka, director general of agriculture and livestock at Madagascar's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, said Madagascar exported frozen lamb products to China for the first time in 2024 and the transition to exporting meat instead of live animals will retain more added value in the country.

"Thanks to this export, (Madagascar's) livestock farmers will have a secure market, which will boost their production, increase their income, and earn more foreign currency," he said, adding that China's growing demand for Madagascar's mutton and goat meat will boost production for local livestock farmers and speed up the African country's agricultural modernisation.

ADVANCING TOWARD MODERNISATION

In November 2024, a group of 20 Africans from the agricultural sector visited the Manluanzhan village in southwest China's Yunnan Province to dig into the country's achievements in rural revitalisation.

During their stay, they saw how structures like disused water towers had been transformed into cafes, and traditional homes converted into modern guesthouses. Participants also engaged in cultural activities such as traditional pottery-making and local martial arts.

Nabirye Sarah from the Busoga Consortium for Development tried making a pottery vase. "These hands-on activities showcase the value of local ethnic culture and are very appealing to urban youth and children," she said, unveiling her plan to introduce such easily accessible and innovative business projects to young people upon returning to her country.

Sarah is among the first cohort under a young rural entrepreneurs' initiative for African countries jointly launched by China Agricultural University and Chinese tech giant Tencent in 2024.

Dima Al-Khatib, director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, depicted the initiative as an innovative South-South cooperation model that facilitates knowledge and skills sharing and fosters collaborative innovation between developing countries.

"This will enable you to transform your communities, to create lasting change, and drive sustainable development across Africa," she said.