KAMPALA, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- A senior Ugandan official on Tuesday welcomed China's decision to fully implement zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries with diplomatic relations, starting from May 1, saying the move will accelerate industrialization and economic development across the continent.
Oryem Henry Okello, Uganda's minister of state for foreign affairs in charge of international affairs, told Xinhua in a telephone interview that the announcement comes at a crucial time, as tariffs are increasingly being used globally as tools of economic pressure.
"We welcome the announcement by the Chinese leader on zero tariffs for African products to China. This allows African entrepreneurs and African businessmen to a market of over one billion people in China," Okello said, after returning from the 39th African Union summit held in Ethiopia last week.
Okello also reflected on more than 70 years of China-Africa cooperation, highlighting China's role in financing major transport and energy infrastructure projects, such as Uganda's Karuma and Isimba Hydropower Plants, which have eased power shortages and supported industrial growth.
"This is an opportunity that would allow African businessmen to improve their productivity, to improve their quality of products, unlike the challenges we have in exporting similar things to other regions," he added.
China also pledged to continue advancing the negotiation and signing of agreements on economic partnership for shared development, and further expand access for African exports to China by upgrading the "green channel" and other facilitation measures.
According to data released by the General Administration of Customs of China, trade between China and Africa reached 314.4 billion U.S. dollars from January to November 2025, up 17.8 percent year on year. Africa's exports to China totaled 112.7 billion dollars, an increase of 5.2 percent year on year.
Okello said the expanded access to the Chinese market would encourage African countries to export more value-added products, thereby driving industrialization across the continent.
"It should make a difference in driving Africa's industrialization. There are a lot of African products which are looking for new markets. Uganda has already started exporting dried red chili to the Chinese market," he said. ■