Summary:

On 2 September 2024, Prime Minister Kamal Madouri visited Beijing to attend the China-Africa Summit that was held from 2 to 6 September.  

Madouri began his visit by meeting with the  Vice President of the Chinese State Council with whom he discussed Tunisia’s strategic geographic and market position that would welcome Chinese investments including in electric vehicles and batteries.   

The Chinese State Council Vice President expressed China’s interest in pursuing infrastructure projects in the solar energy space and infrastructure projects including the Bizerte Bridge and the ambitious medical city project in Kairouan, which is still being explored.   

The PM also met with Chinese businessmen and officials of the China Energy Engineering Corporation, the Chinese Development Cooperation Agency and the Governor of Chinese Export and Import Bank with whom he discussed economic cooperation as well as cooperation in culture, education, technology, and infrastructure development.  

In his speech at the Summit Madouri echoed prior statements from President kais Saied regarding his call for a new “world order” in which the principles of solidarity, peace and sovereignty are respected. He also highlighted Tunisia’s measures to contain corruption and ensure the integrity of state institutions.  

Outlook: 

The China-Africa Summit represents another opportunity for Tunisia to seek Chinese assistance in resolving the economic deficit while further communicating China’s interest in deepening its economic and diplomatic ties in North Africa.  

China’s interest in developing its ties with Tunisia has been on display since President Saied’s visit to China in May 2024 when the two countries agreed on promoting their relations to a strategic partnership.  

However, these visits and agreements are unlikely to produce concrete economic effects in the short-term, as much of the large-scale projects remain in the proposal stage with China likely maintaining a cautious approach to partnerships with Tunisia’s state-run entities. However, the continued conversations between various levels of leadership from the two countries shows that mutual interest remains in pursuing deals.  

China is actively working to enlarge its influence in the Southern Mediterranean and advance its global political and economic interests within the Belt and Road Initiative, of which Tunisia has been a part since 2019.  

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