Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

 China announced last week that it would expand zero-tariff treatment to all 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic ties. However, this substantial move was dismissed by some Western media outlets as "a political act with little economic significance," reflecting a deeper unease over the growing independent cooperation among Global South countries.

A June 14 article in Le Monde framed the policy as "a way for Beijing to say to the US, 'You raise tariffs, I lower them,'" claiming it is not truly intended for African countries. Such commentary not only ignores the tangible economic benefits that China-Africa cooperation has already delivered, but also deliberately downplays the growing efforts of developing countries to forge new models of economic partnership.

On June 11, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a list of the outcomes of the implementation of the follow-up actions of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The document shows that within just nine months, both sides have accelerated implementation of agreed outcomes with a strong sense of urgency. From granting zero-tariff treatment to 33 least developed African countries last year to now covering all African nations with diplomatic ties, China's consistent policy has created unprecedented opportunities for African countries to benefit from the scale and openness of the Chinese market.

China's steady advancement of zero-tariff policies toward Africa is particularly significant in the context of the ongoing US-led tariff war. "The so-called 'reciprocal' tariff policy of the US has negatively impacted the continent's development. Against this backdrop, China's zero-tariff policy has become an important channel to help maintain African growth and mitigate the fallout from US trade actions," Song Wei, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times.

China has remained Africa's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years and continues to expand cooperation through concrete and inclusive initiatives. Yet some Western media persist in portraying China-Africa trade as "imbalanced" or claim that it has "not truly supported the industrial transformation of African economies" - narratives aimed at discrediting the very real gains of China-Africa cooperation. In fact, China's Ministry of Commerce has already clarified that "from a long-term perspective, China-Africa trade is generally balanced."

More importantly, such accusations deliberately overlook the historical roots of Africa's economic structure. "In terms of trade structure, Africa remains a major exporter of raw materials, agricultural products and mineral resources. Why is that the case? It is largely due to the continent's long history of colonization by Western powers, during which it was unable to develop a complete industrial system," said Song.

To break away from reliance on single-commodity exports and the so-called resource curse, Africa needs to strengthen its participation in the global value chain and enhance economic and trade cooperation with the international community. These efforts are essential for improving and upgrading its industrial and trade chains. China has been a key driver of this structural transformation. Over the years - especially since the establishment of the FOCAC-China and Africa have deepened collaboration in capacity building, infrastructure development and industrial chain extension, helping African countries address industrial shortcomings and embark on a path toward diversified and modernized growth.

In China's view, Africa is not a resource appendage but an emerging force in the Global South. However, from the perspective of some Western media outlets, "Africans are like spectators at a tennis match, watching the ball go from one side to the other." Such thinking completely ignores the actual development needs of African countries and their autonomy in choosing development partners, revealing the persistence of a Western colonial mind-set that continues to objectify Africa.

The advantage of China-Africa cooperation lies in its respect and practicality: It comes with no political conditions attached and avoids ideological indoctrination. Instead, it is development-oriented, aiming for shared prosperity. This reflects the principles of South-South cooperation and serves as a vivid example of building a community with a shared future for mankind. While the West remains mired in geopolitical games and Cold War thinking, China-Africa relations have formed a robust, mutually beneficial development network. China and Africa are demonstrating through concrete actions that Africa is not a spectator at a tennis match, but an essential runner in the Global South - sprinting alongside China in a development relay that belongs to itself.