From solidarity to shared modernization: China-Africa ties at 70

Seventy years ago, few could have imagined that Egypt becoming the first African and Arab nation to establish official diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China would help lay the foundation for the development of China-Africa relations over the following decades. On May 30, China and Egypt mark the 70th anniversary of this milestone, highlighting the enduring friendship between the two countries and the broader evolution of ties between China and Africa.

The anniversary also comes at a time when China-Africa cooperation is entering a new phase. Throughout 2026, the two sides are celebrating seven decades of diplomatic engagement with a series of political, economic and cultural activities. Earlier this month, Beijing officially implemented zero-tariff treatment for all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties, making China the first major economy to grant such full unilateral zero-tariff access. The move reinforces Beijing's vision of shared modernization and development.

The timing also lends special significance to this year's Africa Day celebrations in the Chinese capital, showcasing African culture, innovation and entrepreneurship while reflecting increasingly deep people-to-people exchanges between China and Africa.

A friendship shaped by history

In 1956, Egypt set the cornerstone for what would become China's modern relationship with Africa. In the decades that followed, China and African countries found common ground in anti-colonial struggles and efforts to pursue independent development.

That political solidarity reached a defining moment in 1971, when 26 African countries voted in favor of restoring the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China at the United Nations. Chairman Mao Zedong later famously remarked that it was African friends who had "carried China into the United Nations" – a phrase etched in China's diplomatic memory.

FOCAC and a new era of cooperation

As political ties deepened, the relationship gradually expanded from diplomatic solidarity to broader economic and development cooperation.

The creation of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000 established a long-term institutional framework for collective dialogue and development coordination. Since then, FOCAC summits have become major platforms for announcing cooperation initiatives in infrastructure, trade, industrialization, public health and education.

A key turning point came in 2013, when Xi Jinping visited Africa on his first overseas trip as Chinese president and proposed the principles of "sincerity, real results, amity and good faith," along with the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests.

Over the following decade, China-Africa cooperation accelerated rapidly. The 2015 Johannesburg Summit elevated ties to a comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership, while the 2018 Beijing Summit launched the "Eight Major Initiatives" covering industrial promotion, connectivity, green development and capacity building.

At the 2024 Beijing Summit of FOCAC, China and Africa further elevated their relationship to an "all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era." China also established strategic partnerships with all 53 African countries having diplomatic ties with Beijing.

The broadened framework has been accompanied by a shift in cooperation priorities, with digital innovation, green development, industrial upgrading and emerging technologies joining infrastructure and trade as key areas of collaboration.

Roads, hospitals and a changing continent

Across Africa, railways, highways, ports, industrial parks and hospitals built with Chinese help have become visible symbols of the partnership.

Chinese companies have participated in building and upgrading more than 10,000 kilometers of railways and nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads in Africa, alongside ports, bridges, airports and industrial parks that have reshaped regional connectivity. At the same time, China has dispatched medical teams to almost every African country, treating an estimated 230 million patients over the decades.

Trade has also surged. At a record $348.052 billion in 2025, China maintained its position as Africa's largest trading partner for the 17th consecutive year.

While trade remains a cornerstone of the relationship, cooperation is increasingly extending into new sectors. China and African countries are deepening collaboration in cross-border e-commerce, green technology, digital infrastructure and vocational training – areas many African governments view as important for long-term development and industrialization.

A partnership entering a new stage

The 70th anniversary of China-Africa diplomatic relations marks more than a moment of historical commemoration for both sides.

Since China established diplomatic ties with Egypt in 1956, China-Africa engagement has expanded significantly over the decades. The relationship has adapted to evolving national priorities and shifts in the global landscape, with cooperation in each era shaped by the prevailing conditions and development requirements of the time. Exchanges between China and African countries have gradually extended to cover an increasingly wide range of fields.

As China and African nations mark the 70th anniversary of the start of their diplomatic relations, discussions throughout this milestone year have centered on reviewing the historical evolution of the partnership and advancing cooperation within the framework of FOCAC and other existing mechanisms.