SHENZHEN, May 1 (Xinhua) -- At the stroke of midnight, 24 tonnes of South African apples became the first batch of imports to enter China under a landmark initiative, as China expanded zero-tariff treatment to all 53 African nations with which it has diplomatic relations. This policy took effect on May 1.

The shipment, cleared swiftly by Shenzhen customs officers in south China in the early hours of Friday, is bound for supermarkets and wholesale markets across the country. For these South African apples, the tariff rate plunged from 10 percent to zero, strengthening their price competitiveness in the Chinese market.

"This is a real benefit," said Luo Shengcong, general manager of Shenzhen Kin Shing Yip International Agent Co., Ltd., adding that the current batch of goods will yield tariff savings of about 20,000 yuan (roughly 2,929 U.S. dollars).

Effective Dec. 1, 2024, China implemented zero-tariff treatment for the least developed countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, including 33 least-developed African countries.

The new zero-tariff move is another major step that will inject robust momentum into both China-Africa trade and investment cooperation and Africa's development.

China has been Africa's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, with bilateral trade hitting a record 348 billion dollars in 2025.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Africa. Guo Xueyan, an official with the General Administration of Customs, noted that amid a wave of global trade protectionism, China's enhancement of zero-tariff policies for African nations epitomizes the genuine essence of multilateralism.