On September 14, Madagascar's Prime Minister Mamitiana Rajaonarison, who was visiting Hunan, went to the Lianhua Supermarket in Furong Paradise Walk, Changsha, to inspect the sales of Madagascar's mutton in the Chinese market.

Starting May 1, 2026, China implemented zero-tariff treatment on all tariff lines for 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties. This marks the world's first comprehensive zero-tariff policy implemented by a major economy toward African countries with which it has diplomatic ties, and represents a significant and practical achievement marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and African nations.

Madagascar is among the earliest African countries to benefit from the zero-tariff preferential policy for exports to China. In 2023, China and Madagascar signed a protocol on mutton exports to China. In September 2024, the first shipment of frozen mutton from Madagascar arrived in Hunan and completed quarantine clearance, marking China's first mutton imports from Africa. Hunan enterprises have also established a complete mutton industrial chain in Madagascar, including fattening, slaughtering and processing, and export operations.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: Voice of Hunan