Historical Ties Spanning Six Decades
Brazzaville and Beijing have once again highlighted their long-standing friendship by signing a new grant agreement this week at the Ministry of International Cooperation. The document, described as “priority development funding,” was approved by Minister Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso and Chinese Ambassador An Qing.
For the Congolese authorities, this gesture illustrates what President Denis Sassou Nguesso often calls a “community of shared destiny” uniting the two nations. “China’s support remains unwavering,” the Minister told journalists, urging every ministry to quickly submit projects to benefit from this new funding package.
Ambassador An Qing echoed this sentiment, noting that since establishing diplomatic relations in 1964, over 40 interest-free loans and grant programs have been provided to Congo, enabling the construction of highways, hospitals, and fiber-optic cables that now form the backbone of the national economy.
According to Xinhua News Agency, cumulative Chinese funding to the Republic of the Congo had surpassed $5 billion USD by 2023, a figure that includes flagship projects such as the 1,120-meter Talangai Viaduct and the modernization of the Autonomous Port of Pointe-Noire.
New Grant Targets Priority Projects
Officials did not disclose the exact amount of the new grant, but two senior officials indicated it is “comparable” to the 2022 package of $18 million, and will be directed towards education, rural electrification, and the agricultural value chain.
The Ministry of Primary Education has already drafted a proposal for 200 additional classrooms in the Pool and Cuvette regions, while the energy portfolio is finalizing pilot projects for mini solar grids aimed at reducing the state’s energy bill, according to internal concept notes reviewed.
An economic analyst stated that focusing on human capital and off-grid energy could accelerate Congo’s ambition to achieve 7% non-oil GDP growth by 2027. “Infrastructure alone is not enough; we need productive skills and reliable energy,” he explained.
Planned Tariff Exemption to Boost Trade Flows
Beyond grants, Ambassador An Qing confirmed that a bilateral protocol eliminating import duties on 98% of Congolese products will be signed on the sidelines of the China International Import Expo scheduled for November in Shanghai.
If implemented, Congolese timber, cocoa, coffee, and emerging agri-food brands such as cassava flour could access a market of 1.4 billion consumers with better price competitiveness. The Ministry of Commerce predicts exports to China will increase from $38 million to $60 million by 2026.
To mitigate costs, the Congolaise des Routes is accelerating improvements on the RN1 corridor to Ouesso, supported by the China Harbour Engineering Company.
Strategic Partnership Strengthened in 2025
During President Sassou Nguesso’s state visit to Beijing in September 2025, the two countries elevated their relations to a “high-level community with a shared future,” a term Beijing reserves for its most reliable allies. Analysts view this new designation as paving the way for preferential financing and joint research programs.
An expert