China's Ministry of Finance has announced the elimination of customs duties for 98% products imported from 16 developing countries, including Mozambique, starting September 1.

According to a statement released Monday by the ministry, the Customs Tariff Commission of China's State Council has decided to assign 'zero tariff' status to 16 countries.

Most of the countries contemplated are on the African continent: Togo, Eritrea, Central African Republic, Guinea Conakry, Rwanda, Sudan, Chad and Djibouti, where in 2017 China opened its first overseas military base.

In Asia, the list also includes Cambodia and Bangladesh, as well as Laos and Nepal, two countries that China borders.

The 'zero tariff' status will also cover Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, three of the countries visited in May and June by China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on a tour that also included Timor-Leste.

The Solomon Islands and Kiribati recently changed their diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing. The Solomon Islands also signed a pact with China that could lead to the establishment of a Chinese naval base in the South Pacific

The order, signed July 22, stresses that the 'zero tariff' status covers 8,786 types of imported products.

Mozambique was elected in June as a non-permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the 2023-2024 biennium, counting on the support of China, one of the permanent members of the body.

Mozambique's Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Olegário dos Anjos Banze, said in July 2021 that Mozambique wanted to expand agricultural trade with China.

Banze was speaking during a meeting with China's permanent representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Guang Defu.

The Chinese leader invited Mozambique to promote products such as cashew nuts, sisal and beans in the Chinese market. (Lusa)