The first shipment ceremony of Tanzanian honey to China will be held in Dar es Salaam at the end of December 2024. The picture shows the honey products displayed at the launch ceremony. Rwanda is the first African country to export dried chili peppers to China. Thanks to initiatives such as the "Green Channel" for African agricultural products and zero tariff policies, Rwanda has achieved stable exports of dried chili peppers to China. The picture shows farmers in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, drying chili peppers. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jili. In the capital of Madagascar, Antananarivo, local workers are packaging lamb meat that is about to be exported to China. In September 2024, the 21st China ASEAN Expo opened in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The picture shows Nepalese exhibitors promoting sandalwood products. Photo by Zhu Xiaoming (Image from China) Laotian employees working on the production line of a rubber factory in Vientiane. In recent years, China has gradually expanded its unilateral opening up to the least developed countries. Starting from December 1, 2024, China will grant 100% tariff free treatment to all least developed countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, becoming the first developing country and major economy in the world to implement this measure. A large number of high-quality products from these countries, such as natural rubber from Laos, honey from Tanzania, and lamb from Madagascar, are accelerating their integration with the Chinese market demand, providing China with more high-quality raw materials and diversified products, and promoting the development of related industries and improvement of people's livelihoods. Lao natural rubber hopes that our high-quality rubber can be exported more to China, "said Sun Guangyong, a reporter from our newspaper. In the morning, the sun shone on the platform of Moding Station in Laos. A train full of natural rubber slowly starts, passes through the friendship tunnel of the China Laos railway and heads for China. Natural rubber is the main economic crop in Laos and also an important source of income for many Laotian farmers. Starting from December 1, 2024, China will grant 100% tariff free treatment to all least developed countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, and Laotian rubber enterprises will also have greater development opportunities. Previously, according to the China ASEAN Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Laos' natural rubber exports to China were subject to a 20% most favored nation tariff rate. After implementing a zero tariff policy on natural rubber and other products originating from Laos, China has reduced the export cost of Laos' rubber and further promoted the export of Laos' rubber products to China Matsumoto Saiyawong, Director of the Rubber Center at the Lao Academy of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, said. Starting from Vientiane, the capital of Laos, driving along the northern mountainous road, one can occasionally see rubber forests in the mountains and forests. After driving nearly a hundred kilometers, the reporter arrived at the Vientiane Rubber Factory located in Xinhe Village, Xinhe County, Vientiane Province. The factory covers an area of about 10 hectares and was officially put into operation in August 2024. The first phase has an annual output of 30000 tons of rubber, making it the most well-equipped, technologically advanced, and largest rubber factory in Laos. Nowadays, the rubber we produce has a good market in China. We used to have four warehouses to store products, but now with the cost reduction, product turnover is faster. Only one warehouse is enough, which also reduces the risk of storing a large amount of goods Tongmani, the technical supervisor of the production workshop at Wanxiang Rubber Factory, said. Villager Benmi has planted about 1000 rubber trees in his home, and the cut rubber is sold to the Vientiane Rubber Factory, earning nearly 90 million Laotian Kip (about 2900 Laotian Kip) per year. Many households have installed televisions, refrigerators, and speakers, and have several motorcycles. Everyone's lives are getting better and better. We hope that our high-quality rubber can be exported more to China, "said Benmi. Since the opening of the Laos China Railway in December 2021, the daily number of China Laos cross-border freight trains has increased from 2 at the initial stage of opening to 18 at present, the traction tonnage of trains has increased from 2000 tons to 2500 tons, and the logistics cost between Vientiane, Laos and Kunming, Yunnan has decreased by 40% to 50% compared with that before the opening of the Laos China Railway. The convenient transportation conditions, preferential tariff policies, and further simplification of trade procedures have helped to sustain the growth of Laos' exports of specialty products such as rubber to China. According to data from the General Administration of Customs of China, China imported 287400 tons of natural rubber from Laos from January to November 2024, a year-on-year increase of 32.8%. Yang Xi, Deputy General Manager of Vientiane Agricultural Development Group Co., Ltd., which is engaged in the rubber industry in Laos, told reporters that the company has 3 rubber factories and 21 rubber demonstration planting bases in 6 provinces of Laos, with an annual processing capacity of 100000 tons, which has driven more than 100000 local jobs and helped local farmers increase their income steadily. China's zero tariff treatment for Laotian rubber will further promote the development of Laotian rubber industry, boost Laotian economic and social development, and increase local residents' income. In the long run, China's zero tariff policy will help Laotian economic structure transformation and upgrading, while providing higher quality and more economical raw material choices for China's related downstream industries, promoting win-win cooperation. In addition to natural rubber, Laos will actively promote the export of rice, fruits, coffee and other products to China, and deepen cooperation with China in agriculture, animal husbandry, cross-border e-commerce and other fields, "said Lin Kang Duanshawan, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Laos. Tanzanian honey "allowed Chinese consumers to taste the" sweetness "from Tanzania," said Dai Kairan, a reporter from our newspaper. "It was an unforgettable day. We shipped the honey produced by our company to China for the first time, and every employee was very excited." Recalling the scene when the first batch of Tanzanian honey was shipped to China at the end of last year, Mbonera, the head of Tanzania Future Enterprise Development Company, still remembers vividly. He said that thanks to China's zero tariff policy and measures such as the "green channel" for agricultural product exports to China, it is more convenient for Tanzanian honey to enter the Chinese market, which can "allow Chinese consumers to taste the 'sweetness' from Tanzania". At the end of December 2024, the first batch of honey imported from Tanzania to China will be shipped from Dar es Salaam, the largest city in the country. This batch of honey weighs about 10 tons and enjoys zero tariff treatment from the Chinese side. It is purchased by the Tanzania East Africa Trade and Logistics Center and transported to China through Shandong Weihai Huatan Supply Chain Co., Ltd. According to Wang Xiangyu, the general manager of the East African Trade and Logistics Center, about 1 ton of the first batch of honey exported to China comes from Future Enterprise Development Company. Future Enterprise Development Company is located in the Goba region, approximately 18 kilometers north of Dar es Salaam, and mainly engages in the production, processing, packaging, and sales of bee products. Entering the honey processing plant, several employees are bottling honey. Mbonera's university major was bee breeding and management, and after graduation, he founded this company with his friends. At present, the company has established cooperative relationships with more than 20 local beekeepers, with an annual honey production of about 10 tons. In addition to honey, the company also produces products such as bee pollen and beeswax. Beekeeping is one of the important industries in Tanzania, with approximately 2 million people employed nationwide. More than 90% of beekeeping activities in Tanzania are carried out within forest reserves, and the honey produced is organic food. This is the unique advantage of Tanzanian honey, "said Mponera. In November 2024, Future Enterprise Development Company participated in the 7th CIIE and showcased products such as bee pollen, pure natural honey, and small packaged honey at the Tanzania National Pavilion. On the eve of the CIIE, the General Administration of Customs of China issued a notice on the inspection and quarantine requirements for imported Tanzanian honey, allowing the import of Tanzanian honey that meets relevant requirements. Upon hearing this news, Mponera was delighted. "The annual demand for honey in the Chinese market is very high, and if our honey can enter the Chinese market, sales will definitely increase significantly." The experience of participating in the CIIE made Mponera feel the huge potential of the Chinese market. After returning to Tanzania, his company began to cooperate with the East African Trade and Logistics Center to sell honey to China. In order to better meet the needs of the Chinese market, Mponera's team has put in a lot of effort. Taking packaging as an example, Tanzanian consumers prefer bottled honey, while many Chinese consumers prefer bar shaped small packaging honey, which is more convenient to consume. For this reason, they have specially introduced small packaging honey processing equipment from China, which not only improves the quality of honey packaging, but also makes the product more in line with the habits of Chinese consumers. At present, the East African Trade and Logistics Center is coordinating with Tanzanian honey distributors to promote the second batch of Tanzanian honey exports to China. With the increase in honey exports, more and more Tanzanian beekeepers are living a good life, "said Mponera. He is looking for more local beekeeper partners and hopes to export more high-quality honey to the Chinese market, so that Tanzanian beekeepers can share the growth dividends of the Chinese market. Madagascar lamb has helped us achieve stable income growth, "said Zou Song, our reporter. Madagascar is one of the early African countries to enjoy zero tariff preferential policies for exports to China. In December 2023, China implemented zero tariffs on 98% of taxable products originating in Madagascar, which also benefited the country's lamb exports. In September 2024, the first batch of over 900 kilograms of frozen lamb meat produced in Madagascar arrived at the designated inspection site for imported meat at Hunan Hongxing. This is the first time that China has imported lamb products from Africa. Madagascar President Rajoelina stated that the zero tariff policy has greatly encouraged Madagascar's enthusiasm for exporting to China, injecting strong momentum into the country's economic development. Madagascar Island, located in the Indian Ocean, has a warm climate, abundant precipitation, and fertile land, providing favorable conditions for the production of high-quality grass fed lamb on the country's natural pastures. Previously, due to factors such as production methods and sales channels, most local herdsmen engaged in small-scale and scattered animal husbandry. Young sheep grow slowly, old sheep cannot be sold, and sheep have even become the "real estate" of herdsmen. With the implementation of China's zero tariff policy towards Madagascar, the two countries continue to deepen modern agricultural and animal husbandry technology cooperation, helping Madagascar improve the quality of its export products and meet the standards for exporting to China. We introduce the experience of modern animal husbandry in China, promote the sustainable development of local animal husbandry through improving forage varieties, scientifically breeding sheep, establishing cooperatives, and improving processing and logistics systems Zhang Ting, Executive President of Zhongma Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd., introduced that the company currently operates 170000 acres of improved grassland, two fattening points, and four cooperative fattening farms in Madagascar. The process of cooperation is also a process of building trust. With the help of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and local agricultural technicians in Madagascar, we have had face-to-face exchanges with local farmers on the benefits of establishing cooperatives. Gradually, more and more farmers have joined the cooperatives, "said Zhang Ting. Herdsman Isara is one of the farmers who joined the cooperative. Recently, he plans to further expand his sheep pen. "My sheep inventory has increased from over 20 to around 50, and my income has also increased by more than double." Hentesoa's fattening and processing plant is one of the top in the Tuliara region of southwestern Madagascar. Since its cooperation with China Malaysia Animal Husbandry in 2023, Hengtesoa has upgraded from a primary agricultural product supplier to a full industry chain partner. Through the "enterprise+cooperative+farmer" model, it has achieved deep integration of pilot planting of tropical forage, short-term optimal feeding of live sheep, logistics transportation and other links. The support from our Chinese partners in various aspects has helped us achieve stable income growth, "said Hentesoa. China's enormous market potential and opening-up policy will contribute to Madagascar's high-quality lamb exports, which will help herders lift themselves out of poverty and increase their income Michel Anondraca, Director General of Agriculture and Livestock at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Madagascar, stated that,