China Trade With Africa and Central Asia: A New Economic Axis Emerges

China trade ties with countries from Africa and Central Asia pushing for a new empire and economic axis.

WartaBerita.Net | JAKARTA – While the world is glued to the new war between Iran and Israel , and Western media chases every headline, something far more impactful is quietly unfolding, and it definitely will shape the fate of billions worldwide.

It was China trade deals with countries from Africa and Central Asia.

The questions should be ask now is this: So who is really changing the rules of the global game right now?
Who is quietly rewriting the future behind the scenes — by signing two massive trade agreements that could reshape the global economy?

China Trade Deals With Africa

Last week, the Chinese government hosted representatives from 53 African nations at the China-Africa Cooperation Forum.

And to summoned up the latest China trade deals, the main result is clear: First; Africa confirmed its commitment to China, and also their confirmation to actively join its new trade system in the future. Second; The Chinese market is fully opening up to African exports. Not just opening up, it’s also duty-free.

As French geopolitical expert Arnaud Bertrand put it best: “It’s impossible to overstate the scale and ambition of this plan. No rising power has ever before gained the support of an entire continent or built a program so large aimed at reshaping the global order.”

What happened at the China-Africa summit wasn’t just diplomacy. The China trade deals with African countries was a trade revolution. A global one.

Not just that,  here’s what matters most: This agreement clearly shows how differently the U.S. and China operate today.

One builds walls — the other builds bridges.

While the U.S. is sending warships and ballistic missiles into the Persian Gulf, getting dragged deeper into Israel’s conflict with Iran — China’s president has also arrived in the region. But not for war. He arrived for cooperation, with China trade deals that make every country involved feels good.

China-Central Asia Summit

But China’s president Xi Jinping was not done yet. After the deals concluded in Africa, he moves to another part of the world, for anothe China trade deals.

Now, it’s Central Asia’s turn.

At the China-Central Asia summit in Kazakhstan, he signed yet another breakthrough agreement with five regional nations. The agreement cementing China’s role as the dominant economic power in the region.

What’s happening now is a story of two empires moving in opposite directions.

The U.S. retreats into isolation , builds walls, raises tariffs, and pushes protectionism. While at the other end, China opens new horizons — fills the vacuum — and positions itself as the leader of a new world order built not on military force, but on economic ties and mutual benefit .

Defining Trend

These China trade deals seen  as defining trend that shaping the future global economy. Here’s a direct quote from the joint declaration between China and 53 African nations:

“Growth and rise of the Global South is the defining trend of our time — and the future of global development. China and Africa are key players and driving forces behind this movement. We call on all countries — especially those in the Global South — to unite in building a shared future for humanity.”

In other words: while the West is busy with tanks and missiles, China plays the long game — choosing trade, infrastructure, and influence.

And just now, it granted Africa privileged access to the second-largest economy in the world — its own.

For decades, African nations have struggled to gain fair market access. Western economies set such strict rules and high tariffs that African goods had little chance to compete globally.

Now, China is offering something radically different — open doors, no barriers, real economic opportunity.

As a result, a system emerged where Africa was only seen as a supplier of raw materials.

But it was never allowed into the most profitable part of the business — where countries process those materials , manufacture finished goods, and actually make real money.

This started to change dramatically in the early 21st century.

The Pivot

In the early 2000s, the United States was the main trade partner for most African countries — as shown on this map.
At that time, trade between China and Africa was tiny — only about $14 billion per year.

But today, China has become the top trading partner for 53 African nations , with annual trade volume soaring to $290 billion — a staggering 2000% increase in just 25 years.

While the West still sees Africa as a raw-material appendage, China says: we want to build a shared future together .

And it’s not just words — China is delivering real deals , infrastructure , and tangible economic benefits that are already changing the lives of millions across Africa.

No Hypocrisy

Take a look at this map: 33 seaports , 6 railroads.

All of it built by China in Africa over just the past 12 years — since the launch of its famous “Belt and Road Initiative.”

If Africa truly wants to do more than just sell raw materials — if it wants to become a full-fledged producer economy — then logistics, ports, highways, and railways are essential.

Without infrastructure, exporting finished goods is simply impossible. And today, there’s no country better positioned to build all this than China. China doesn’t just talk about cooperation with Africa — it’s physically laying new trade routes right now.

Here’s an example: Nigerian graduate student Sunusi Sala personally attended the China-Africa summit in Changsha, and shared his impressions:

“The Hunan provincial government presented itself as a reliable partner for Africa in mining and heavy machinery. At the exhibition, they showcased both brand-new and used equipment — and the prices were incredible. We signed contracts for mineral extraction, including technology transfer agreements.”

And honestly, none of this should come as a surprise. China is entering Africa’s mining sector aggressively — and doing it brilliantly.

Local authorities in Hunan clearly understand one thing: now is the perfect time to become a key partner in this fast-growing and highly promising industry — one that’s still largely unclaimed.

My favorite comment under Sunusi’s tweet: “Congratulations! You’re where the civilized world makes deals for a better future — not where the West tries to bomb its way into dominance.”

And here’s what Sunusi replies: “No lectures from China. No hypocrisy. No sense of superiority. Just business. Real work. And food on the table.”

I’m retelling these conversations on purpose — because they offer an honest and vivid illustration of how China builds influence today.

Right now, China has essentially one global mission: find partners and build as many mutually beneficial relationships as possible.

The Chinese are incredibly pragmatic — they don’t get dragged into ideological battles over political disagreements.
Their negotiations follow a simple rule: you give A, you get B — no more, no less.

This calm, emotion-free, practical approach is exactly why China is steadily gaining global influence — step by step, deal by deal.

Even in places like Africa , where Western powers once dominated — China is now making its presence felt, without force, without drama — just with concrete results.

Don’t believe it? Then take a look at this chart.

This is the 2025 Democracy Perception Index , a study from the Alliance of Democracies — a Danish non-profit organization.

And here’s what it shows: China’s global perception is now more positive than that of the U.S. And how the world sees America has dropped to levels comparable with Russia.

This isn’t just some “granny-on-a-bench” gossip — this is cold, hard data.
The language of facts.

But this historic trade deal opening China’s market to Africa is only part of the full story from Changsha.

At the same time as the official summit, the 4th massive China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo was underway.

Thousands of African entrepreneurs, officials, and business leaders gathered — not for speeches or handshakes — but for real deals.

It wasn’t just a conference — it was a festival of partnership, innovation, and opportunity .

Exhibition booths were packed with African goods — from textiles and spices to cutting-edge tech and energy solutions — all presented to Chinese buyers and investors.

Some may say: “So what?”

I say: This was a clear signal — especially to the West — that Africa is no longer just a continent of raw materials. It’s a continent of creators, innovators, and fast-growing markets, with the help of China trade in the region.

China saw this potential 25 years ago — when first started expanding China trade with Africa.

And thanks to hundreds of billions in investments, China has sent a powerful message to the world:

“Africa’s future is with China.”

And in many ways — China’s future is also tied to Africa .

While the West still sees Africa as a collection of developing nations, China sees something else. To Beijing, Africa is already a developed region — just underfunded and underserved.

That’s why with China trade, it is pouring huge sums into infrastructure, logistics, mining, agriculture, and e-commerce across the continent.

They’re not just investing — they’re laying down a solid foundation for Africa’s long-term transformation…
and eventually, China trade is quietly reshaping the entire global economy.

Let me share one powerful quote from Professor Lu Feng of Peking University: “The last 500 years of world history show one thing clearly: an industrial power has never lost when challenged by a financial empire — especially if that financial empire is also a global hegemon.”

These are deep words — because they perfectly reflect where the U.S. and China stand today.

China is undeniably the world’s industrial superpower — the factory of the globe, the top trading partner not only of Africa, but of more than 120 countries worldwide.

The United States and the U.S. dollar remain the planet’s strongest financial force.

But while the West is busy fighting wars and dropping bombs — China is building roads, ports, rail lines, and bridges.

Right now, we’re witnessing a fundamental shift in the global balance of power with China trade across the globe. The truth is — in the new world economy, leadership will not go to the country with the most weapons, soldiers, or sanctions.

It will go to the one that controls the resources and relationships shaping the future. [WB]