Yunnan is China’s main region for growing Artemisia annua (青蒿), and artemisinin (青蒿素), the core drug against malaria, is widely used in Africa’s high-incidence areas. In the past, malaria was among the most lethal diseases worldwide: each year it caused millions of deaths in Africa, harming children and pregnant women particularly severely. However, with the rollout of artemisinin, malaria has gradually shifted from a high-fatality disease to a more commonly curable one.

Companies in Yunnan, such as Kunming Pharmaceutical Group, have substantially lowered drug production costs by drawing on abundant local Artemisia annua resources and advanced manufacturing technologies. As a result, artemisinin-based medicines are priced far below comparable products in Europe and the United States. Today, their retail prices can be as low as a few dollars, making them affordable for ordinary African households.

The broader adoption of artemisinin-class medicines has significantly reduced malaria mortality in Africa. According to statistics, global malaria deaths fell by 47%, and child malaria deaths in Africa fell by 58%. Through low-price supply—and even free provision—of medicines, China has not only saved millions of lives, but also demonstrated deep goodwill toward Africa.