President John Dramani Mahama says Ghana is seeking deeper industrial collaboration with China, particularly in value addition and export expansion, as the two countries work toward a potential zero-tariff trade framework.

In an exclusive interview on China Global Television Network (CGTN), the President said Ghana wants Chinese industries to partner with local businesses to process raw materials for export back into the Chinese market.

“We’re looking on the Ghanaian side for Chinese industries to come and help us add value to the products that we have so that we can export back into the Chinese market,” he said.

President Mahama also emphasised the need to harmonise product standards between the two countries to boost Ghana’s access to the Chinese market.

He noted that China operates with “about 40 standards,” making alignment essential for smoother trade.

“And so we need to harmonise our standards with the Chinese standards so that it makes it easier for us to export into the Chinese market. Those are the areas we are ironing out, and I think that we can reach an understanding,” he added.

The interview comes as Ghana and China mark 65 years of diplomatic relations — a partnership that has grown into one of Ghana’s most significant bilateral economic ties. China remains Ghana’s largest trading partner, with cooperation spanning infrastructure, industrialisation, vocational training and increasing bilateral trade volumes.

In the CGTN “Leaders Talk” episode hosted by Wang Guan, discussions also touched on President Mahama’s recent meeting with President Xi Jinping and China’s proposed Global Governance Initiative, which Beijing says aims to enhance development cooperation at a time of shifting global geopolitics.

The conversation underscored China’s longstanding support for Africa’s development agenda, particularly in roads, energy projects and skills training, and how these areas will shape Ghana’s next phase of economic transformation.

As Ghana pushes toward full industrialisation and greater export competitiveness, both governments are exploring opportunities to deepen cooperation, with the zero-tariff discussions seen as a potential catalyst for accelerated trade growth.