On July 14, Minister Zhang Wei, Deputy Head of Mission of China to the African Union, met with Ms. Mama Keita,Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

Minister Zhang congratulated Ms. Keita on her new appointment and expressed the hope that she would fully leverage her extensive experience in multilateral affairs to strengthen exchanges and interactions with the Chinese side. He stated that the Chinese Mission is willing to coordinate with Chinese institutions to enhance cooperation with UNECA, jointly supporting Africa’s economic transformation and sustainable development. He also briefed her on the spirit of the important speech of H.E. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the Celebration of the 105th Anniversary of the Founding of the CPC, as well as the positive outcomes of China’s zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations.

Ms. Keita highly appreciated China’s zero-tariff treatment for African countries against the rising global trade protectionism, noting that it provides valuable developmental space for Africa. Speaking highly of China’s development achievements, she emphasized that UNECA attaches great importance to its cooperation with the Chinese side and looks forward to strengthening exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa in economic development and social governance.