Beijing: Sudan took part in a retreat organized by the African Union for African ambassadors accredited to the People's Republic of China, held in Beijing from April 23-24, 2026, under the theme: Maximizing Benefits from China's Full Tariff Exemption Initiative to Support Development and Prosperity in Africa.
According to Sudan News Agency, the retreat explored ways to enhance African coordination to capitalize on China's initiative granting 100% tariff exemptions on eligible African exports, set to take effect on May 1, 2026, with a view to expanding access to Chinese markets and boosting trade and investment.
Discussions also addressed aligning the initiative with the African Continental Free Trade Area priorities and Agenda 2063, to advance industrialization and economic transformation, particularly in agriculture, manufacturing, and regional value chains.
Sudan's Ambassador to China, Omar Issa, underscored the importance of leveraging the initiative to boost Sudanese exports-especially in agriculture and mining-thereby supporting economic development and generating added value for the national economy.
The retreat concluded by stressing the need to move from policy frameworks to practical implementation through enhanced financing mechanisms, information-sharing, and capacity-building.