Trade between China and Tunisia reached 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, with Chinese imports from Tunisia surging 42 per cent.

China is seen as one of the best trade partners for Tunisian companies in expanding international markets.

China boasts of technology, funds and a large market, while Tunisia has a cheap labor force and a strategic geographic position. Chinese firms can enter European markets through Tunisia.

Tunisia was the first country along the southern coast of the Mediterranean to have achieved free trade with the European Union. In the 1990s, Tunisia signed a free trade agreement with the EU to facilitate economic exchanges between the two shores of the Mediterranean.

China and Tunisia feel they can establish a true partnership by sharing customers and strategic positions.

Besides inviting China to invest in the North African country, Tunisian entrepreneurs also hope to export more products into the Chinese market.

Thanks to e-commerce, Tunisian products have earned a good reputation among Chinese consumers.

Economic sectors of both countries have been encouraged to explore cooperation potential and expand mutual investment. Chinese knowhow in several fields, including technology, gives Tunisian companies enormous potential to enter Chinese and global markets.

Bilateral cooperation will be strengthened in five areas: policy coordination, interconnection of infrastructure, trade facilitation, financial integration as well as mutual understanding.