Mpotjoane champions Global South unity at Changsha meeting
• As Africa adopts Changsha declaration on upholding solidarity and cooperation of the global south
• China offers zero tariffs on 53 African countries
SEEPHEEPHE MAHAO
MASERU – Foreign minister, Lejone Mpotjoane, is leading Lesotho’s delegation at the high-profile Changsha meeting in China, reinforcing government’s steadfast commitment to the principles of the China-Africa Changsha Declaration.
Lesotho’s active participation highlights its strategic role in strengthening diplomatic and economic ties with China and fellow African nations, aligning with shared development objectives.
The meeting serves as a key platform for Global South collaboration, and Lesotho’s engagement underscores its dedication to multilateral cooperation. By contributing to collective efforts on trade, sustainability, and regional stability, the nation continues to position itself as a proactive player in advancing Africa-China relations and fostering inclusive growth.
On Wednesday this week, the FOCAC vision was further advanced during the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions by China and 53 African counties and the African Union Commission.
The meeting led to the adoption of the China-Africa Changsha Declaration on Upholding Solidarity and Cooperation of the Global South, the List of Outcomes of the Implementation of the Follow-up Action of the Beijing FOCAC Summit, and the Concept Paper of 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi read President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory message at the opening ceremony of the Wednesday event in front of more than 100 ministerial-level officials from FOCAC member states, representatives of the African Union Commission and African ambassadors to China also attended, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Minister Wang also put forward five proposals on promoting high-quality China-Africa cooperation. He noted that China and Africa need to support each other and uphold the solidarity of the Global South; China and Africa need to open up to the world and champion international free trade; China and Africa need to pursue mutual benefit and engage in cooperation on global development; China and Africa need to uphold justice and defend an equitable international order; China and Africa need to carry out exchange and mutual learning and promote diversity of civilizations in the world.
According to the China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian, President Xi announced that China will implement the policy of granting 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines, provide more facilitation to least developed countries in Africa for their export to China, and work with Africa to further implement the 10 partnership actions, providing important guidance for China and Africa jointly advancing modernization and building an inclusive China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
The 53 African countries and the African Union Commission agreed to advance the full implementation of the Beijing Declaration on jointly building an inclusive China-Africa community with a Shared Future for the New Era as follows;
I. We agree that the rise and growth of the Global South represents the trend of the times and the future of development. China and Africa are both important members of and staunch forces in the Global South. We call on all countries, especially countries in the Global South, to work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.
We commend the initiative of jointly building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era for its positive significance in safeguarding solidarity and cooperation of the Global South and defending multilateralism.
II. We agree that the frequent occurrence of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying has created severe difficulties for the economic and social development and the improvement of livelihood in African countries and other developing countries. This is a pressing challenge that members of the Global South including China and African countries must address.
III. Given that certain countries’ attempt to disrupt the existing international economic and trade order by tariffs undermines the common good of the international community, we call on all countries, the United States in particular, to return to the right track of resolving trade disputes through consultation based on equality, respect and mutual benefit. The international community should give prioritized attention to the economic difficulties and development challenges faced by African countries.
Development assistance to African countries should be effectively increased, not unilaterally slashed, to provide continued support to help African countries improve people’s livelihood, reduce poverty and boost economic and social development.
IV. The African side commends China’s courage and resolve to defend international equity and justice and safeguard international economic and trade order. China highly commends African countries’ commitment to the basic principles of sovereignty, equality and justice and to upholding a common position in the face of external pressure. Unilateral concession cannot earn mutual respect. We resolutely oppose any party reaching a deal of compromise at the expense of the interests of other countries.
V. We call on the international community to uphold true multilateralism in accordance with the principle of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, jointly oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, safeguard the UN-centred international system, defend the WTO-centred multilateral trading system, and make economic globalization more open, inclusive, mutually beneficial and balanced, so as to foster a better trade, investment and financing environment for the Global South.
VI. We will join hands in cementing the foundation of sovereign equality, maintaining that all countries, regardless of their size or strength, are equal members of the international community, and resolutely upholding international justice and order.
We will continue to safeguard each other’s legitimate rights and interests, stand side by side with mutual understanding and support amid chaos and changes, stabilize this uncertain world with the certainty of the China-Africa relationship, establish a benchmark for sincere friendship and equality in the Global South, and advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world.
VII. We will unite to support and put into practice the vision of openness, cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, stay committed to the six-point proposition on the joint endeavour to advance modernization, make solid progress in implementing the ten partnership actions for modernization, and support the implementation of the Second Ten Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
We will build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, set an example of solidarity, cooperation, independence and self-reliance of the Global South, and call for a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
VIII. China is ready to, through negotiating and signing the agreement of China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development, expand the zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines to all 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China, or all African countries except eSwatini, to welcome quality products from Africa to the Chinese market.
For the least developed countries in Africa, on top of the zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines announced at the 2024 Beijing Summit of FOCAC, China will roll out measures on market access, inspection and quarantine, and customs clearance to boost trade in goods, enhance skills and technical training, and expand the promotion of quality products.
IX. China is ready to work with Africa to deepen the implementation of the ten partnership actions for modernization, prioritize cooperation in such key areas as green industry, e-commerce and e-payment, science and technology, and artificial intelligence, and enhance cooperation in security, finance and the rule of law, so as to promote high-quality development of China-Africa cooperation.
X. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has become a fine example of solidarity and cooperation of the Global South. The List of the Outcomes of the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation provides a comprehensive, quantitative and tangible presentation of progress achieved. China and Africa will carry out the plans outlined in the Concept Paper of 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges to contribute to the solidarity of the Global South.
The ministry’s spokesperson further noted that, over recent years China-Africa relations have achieved great leaps forward. China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China have established strategic partnerships, and China has been the largest trading partner for Africa for 16 years in a row. Since the FOCAC Beijing Summit last year, China has made an additional investment of over RMB 13.3 billion, and provided funding of over RMB 150 billion to Africa. In the first five months of this year, China’s imports and exports with Africa reached RMB 963 billion, up by 12.4 percent year-on-year, hitting a record high for the same period of the year in history.
In September 2024, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing marked a significant milestone in China-Africa relations, emphasizing the creation of an inclusive community with a shared future for the new era. Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders from Africa jointly discussed the future of China-Africa relations, and the ten partnership actions China will take with Africa for modernization.
The world today is increasingly marked by changes and turbulence, especially the US reciprocal tariffs which infringes the legitimate rights and interests of other countries and severely disrupting the global economic order, causing tremendous difficulties to the economic and social development and improvement of people’s livelihoods in African nations and other developing countries.
China always views enhancing solidarity and cooperation with African countries as an important cornerstone of our foreign policy. We stand ready to work with Africa to make solid progress in implementing the outcomes of FOCAC Beijing Summit, take effort to design the development of the forum in the future, use the “golden key” of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation to unlock the door to a future of common development, support Africa’s development and revitalization through Chinese modernization, and make joint contribution to realizing the solidarity and strength of the Global South and building a community with a shared future for mankind.
The China-Africa Changsha Declaration signifies a renewed commitment to deepening the strategic partnership between China and Africa. By focusing on fair trade practices, sustainable development, and enhanced people-to-people exchanges, both parties aim to build a more inclusive and prosperous future. Lesotho’s active involvement highlights the importance of collective action in achieving these shared objectives.
