Abstract ：The establishment of African Continental Free Trade Area（AfCFTA）is a strategic choice made by Africa based on its own reality and the profound changes of the international sysem，and it marks the entry of a new era in Africa's development. After independence，under the guidance of Pan-Africanism，Africa began a difficult exploration of economic integration，from the establishment of the Organization of African Unity to the establishment of the African Union，from the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development to the African Union Agenda 2063 . From the establishment of the 8 regional economic communities to the establishment of the African Economic Community，Africa has achieved fruitful results in economic integration，laying a solid foundation for the AfCFTA.

The African Continental Free Trade Area is the flagship project of the African Union to promote economic integration. It carries Africa's desire to achieve a higher level of integration. It adopts an“incremental”trade agreement approach and reflects the latest developments in global regional trade agreements. The construction of a free trade zone in Africa aims to enhance the endogenous growth momentum of the economy，make up for the shortcomings of the industrial chain and supply chain，and improve Africa's disadvantaged position in the global economic and trade structure. Insufficient local manufacturing capacity，low level of trade facilitation，the predicament of collective action，and lack of infrastructure are problems that need to be resolved urgently in the construction of a free trade area on the African continent.

The construction of AfCFTA brings new opportunities for the Belt and Road Initiative（BRI）. Infrastructure connectivity is an important element of the BRI between China and Africa，as well as the basis and guarantee for the realization of the expected benefits of the AfCFTA. On the one hand，the existing cooperation between China and Africa in the field of infrastructure has laid a solid foundation for Africa to build AfCFTA. On the other hand，the construction AfCFTA makes China-Africa co-construction BRI market broader.

The goal of the BRI is the same as the goal of AfCFTA. China supports the expansion of African exports to China，supports the enhancement of intra-african and Sino-African trade facilitation and the acceleration of Sino-African free trade cooperation. The connection between the BIR and the construction of AfCFTA will greatly boost the intra-african trade and the overall level of Africa's foreign trade，and enhance the endogenous impetus of Africa's development.Looking ahead，China and Africa should focus on linking up the BIR with the building of AfCFTA，strengthening top-level design and improving related mechanisms. The two sides should advance negotiations on the China-Africa free trade area in a prudent manner. We will actively promote trilateral or multi-party market cooperation between China and Africa in jointly building BIR. We also encourage more private enterprises to participate in the construction of AfCFTA.

Key Words ：African Continental Free Trade Area；Belt and Road Initiative；African Economic Integration sh4u0OjKNk8mdZ0D737AnpwYk6JB1tx8dZ+mfXJEipX/8RgMVktCCrJ/b872lOqa