China-Africa Policy reached a new realm in 2013 when President Xi Jinping proposed that China-Africa relationship should be hinged on sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith to usher in an all-weather community with a shared future. China and Africa have forged a long standing relationship over the years and this principles are concrete ways to measure, assess and evaluate their friendship.

On the notion of sincerity, China has shown its commitment and sincerity towards Africa with its genuine commitment for the development and progress of Africa. China has held numerous meetings, dialogues and symposium with African countries to discuss, deliberate and dialogue on best practices of governance, deal with global issues and achieve the 2063 Agenda of the African Union and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. Building on the outcomes of the Nine Programs, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2025–2027) focuses on ten areas: mutual learning among civilizations, trade prosperity, industrial chain cooperation, connectivity, development cooperation, health, agriculture and livelihoods, people-to-people exchanges, green development, and common security. China-Africa meetings have mostly been hosted by China to discuss practical, efficient, action oriented and mechanisms to be adopted to execute policies and action plans. This is a sign of good friendship and mutual respect for Africa.

On the area of real results, China's footprints are all over Africa, it has changed the landscape with the BRI Initiative. Specifically, the TAZARA railway remains one of the most laudable projects in Africa. It was built from 1970-1975, and opened up Zambia to Tanzania with a 1,860km railway line. In Nigeria, Chinese projects have brought development and prosperity to locked up communities, towns and villages with the construction of Abuja-Kaduna railway among others. These projects have filled the infrastructural gaps in Africa, modernized the continent, given access to raw materials, allowed trade to flourish and revived Africa's ailing transportation system.

On the notion of Amity, China has fostered cordiality, harmony and a mutual understanding of the friendship that exists between China and Africa. China has used bilateral exchanges and cultural engagements to foster harmony between the two sides. There have been diverse cultural activities, deepening educational cooperation, vibrant youth engagements, youth exchanges, comprehensive people to people engagement, joint development of digital education and cultural preservation efforts. Bilateral cultural exchanges have created mutual understanding of the two different but unique civilizations through numerous events such as the China-Africa International Film Festival, China-Africa Art Festival, China-Africa Arts Exhibitions, China-Africa Youth Gala, China-Africa Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum. Bilateral cultural exchange programs serve as conduits for interactions and offer rich insights into the complexities of cross-cultural communication to foster harmony. They offer empowerment and capacity building for young leaders, foster mutual learning across cultures, reveal our diversities, promote economic development, strengthen people-to-people ties, build friendships, offer platforms for collaborations, inspire innovative skills and create opportunities.

On the concept of good faith, China has launched a series of mediation efforts to resolve conflicts in Africa, the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa launched in 2022 was a genuine peacemaking effort. China upholds that peace is a key element for development, securing peace for Africa will ensure its development. In the area of finance, Africa has been stifled, restricted and curtailed with funds from western led financial institutions such as Bretton Woods System (International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank). China has used its financial institutions to fill in the gap and provide alternatives for African countries, with the China Development Bank and China Eximbank providing funds for infrastructure projects in Africa. Projects such as Nigeria and Angola railways networks, Zimbabwe thermal station, Cote de Ivoire hydro stations to mention a few.

Economically, China is aiding Africa with its industrialization and exports. China has remained Africa’s largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years with their bilateral trade volume reaching 348 billion US dollars in 2025. On May 1, 2026, China expanded its zero-tariff treatment to cover all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties. Products such as apples, wines and citrus fruits from South Africa, Cocoa from Cote de Ivoire and Ghana, avocados and coffee from Kenya, Cashew nuts, ginger, sesame seeds, Hibiscus flowers, shea butter and moringa products from Nigeria will all benefit from this gesture from China.  China's zero tariff policy offers African countries the ability to innovate their economic prowess from a raw material economy to a manufacturing and investment nation. Secondly, China is openly supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) policy that champions the development of regional supply chains across Africa. Furthermore, accessing China's market will increase the quality of good coming from Africa which gives them entry into a global market and competitiveness. Additionally, this policy reiterates China's advocacy of multilateralism, south-south cooperation and globalism as against protectionist policies in the world. Lastly, it’s a policy that aims to give a wide opportunity to enhance the trade balance between China and most African countries.

Furthermore, China has been championing the cause of the global south countries through a series of global initiatives, including the Global Governance Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, Global Security Initiative. First, it has been calling for equality, equal participation, respect, cooperation, coordination, consensus, non-interference and mutual benefits. China has stated that all civilization are unique and they must be respected, all nations are the same and they should have the same voice in the UN. It has also stated that the global south are being side-line in the affairs of global governance, it has pushed for equal participation of these countries in global affairs.

China’s principles of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith in Africa are realistic, observable and practicable all over Africa. It shows China’s commitment to Africa's friendship, economic ties, manpower capacities, development, progress, peace and most especially the attainment of the sustainable development goals on the continent. It is hoped that they will continue their engagements and interactions through inclusiveness, openness, mutual benefit, learning and respect.

About the author:

Adetoro Olanyi Banwo, Deputy director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Lagos, Nigeria.