China plans free trade area pact with Africa

China plans to develop a free trade area with African countries to increase the continent’s exports to the far-east nation and reduce the trade deficit.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday (Sunday), vice-chairman of social sciences in the Ministry of Education in China, Hu Hailiang, was quoted by Tanzanian daily newspaper, Daily News, as saying: “China will negotiate with individual African countries and regional blocs to develop a free trade area agreement to promote exchange of goods and services and investments.”

China’s policymakers are reportedly in the process of compiling the five-year plan (2016-2020).

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