Africa’s Ambassadors to China are set to meet for an annual retreat from April 23rd-24th, 2026, to implement China’s unprecedented policy of duty-free access for all goods starting from May 1st, 2026.
The African Union Permanent Mission to China, headed by H.E. Ambassador Alhaji Sarjoh Bah, the AU Permanent Representative, made an official announcement via a press release issued on April 20th, 2026.
The theme of the retreat, which has been called for by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, is “Maximizing the benefits of China’s 100% Tariff-Free Market Access Offer through Development and Prosperity in Africa.”
According to Ambassador Bah, the main objective of the retreat is to increase and improve Africa’s coordinated response to the issue, increase the level of market access for products from Africa, and integrate the policy within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Agenda 2063.
The discussions will focus on finance possibilities, productivity tools, lessons learned from the first countries to enter into trade relations with China, and the creation of regional value chains, special economic zones, agro-processing, and industrialization.
The attendees include African Ambassadors and permanent representatives to China, officials from the AU Commission’s ETTIM Department, AUDA-NEPAD, AfCFTA Secretariat, and representatives from Chinese Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, and CIDCA. Keynote speaker will be H.E. Dr. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD.
Ambassador Bah emphasized the need for foresight to manage uncertainties.
“In this regard, let us be clear-sighted and strategic in our thinking. To break this cycle, we must change our economic model to a more modernized system that is efficient and competitive, and perfectly attuned to the dynamics of the global markets of the 21st century,” the Ambassador said.
This meeting follows the December 2025 strategic reflection on the synergy between FOCAC and Agenda 2063.
