African leaders officially launched the operational phase of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement at the 12th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) held in Niamay, capital of Niger, yesterday.

As a good friend of Africa, China celebrates the official launch of the AfCFTA, for it shows the determination to achieve self-support through integration, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang at today's press conference.

The AfCFTA contributed to preserving multilateralism and free trade, and building an open world economy under the global environment where unstable factors are on the rise.

China has always been the largest trading partner for Africa, helping boost connectivity and industrial development on the continent, said Geng.

China's efforts proved to have supported Africa's self-support through integration, and helped build the free trade agreement, he said.

The AfCFTA also opened up new prospects for China-Africa cooperation, said Geng. China is willing to work with Africa to implement the agreement from the China-Africa Cooperation Forum Beijing Summit, and connect the Belt and Road Initiative with the AfCFTA, providing more support to promote Africa's trade.

Fifty-four AU member countries have signed the AfCFTA in just one year since it was launched.