This photo taken on June 12, 2025 shows guests talking prior to the opening ceremony of the fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)
BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, themed "China and Africa: Together Toward Modernization", was held in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, from June 12 to 15. The city of Changsha, thousands of miles away from Africa, once again embraced "African time".
-- China-Africa economic and trade cooperation remains strong
The enthusiasm of exhibitors highlights the popularity of China-Africa economic and trade relations. Nearly 4,700 Chinese and African companies, business associations and financial institutions, as well as over 30,000 participants attended this year's expo.
As one of the most important exchange activities in the economic and trade field between China and African countries in 2025, this expo focused on jointly implementing the ten partnership action plans for modernization, driving high-quality development of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, and injecting new momentum into practical cooperation between China and Africa.
From African products to tourism resources, from digital payment solutions to agricultural machinery and clean energy technologies, the expo is closely aligned with Africa's development needs, unleashing new potential for China-Africa cooperation.
More than 800 unique African products were on display, seeking to gain a foothold or grow their popularity in the Chinese market. For Africa, China has a stable market and broad prospects, along with a series of favorable policies and platform support for African countries.
Data shows that in 2024, the trade volume between China and Africa reached more than 295.56 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of 4.8 percent, marking a historical high for the fourth consecutive year.
-- Innovative and practical trade cooperation models deepen
Data shows the continuous deepening of China-Africa trade cooperation models. The "African flavors" at the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo are becoming a daily choice for Chinese consumers.
In Grand-Bereby, a town in southwestern Cote d'Ivoire's San Pedro department, local workers skillfully operate machines on the production line, where fresh latex undergoes processes such as coagulation, sheet pressing, and drying, ultimately transforming into standardized rectangular rubber blocks. This is the third rubber processing plant established by the Chinese company Mainland Group in Cote d'Ivoire, which officially commenced production in October 2024, with an annual capacity of 100,000 tonnes. From raw latex to high value-added products, Chinese technology is helping reshape the value chain of the rubber industry in West Africa, providing key support for the industrial upgrading in Cote d'Ivoire.
It's reported that, as of now, there have been several successful cases of China-Africa industrial cooperation, including the Eastern Industry Zone in Ethiopia and China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Egypt.
The expo features dedicated zones for clean energy, energy conservation and environmental protection, and modern agricultural machinery. For the first time, it includes special exhibitions on renowned China-Africa cooperation brands and the China-Africa fashion industry, with 30 trade and economic activities covering various fields such as China-Africa industrial chain cooperation, cultural trade, youth innovation and entrepreneurship, etc.
Focusing on the development needs of Africa's industrialization, agricultural modernization, and green development, this expo serves as a "real map" of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.
In recent years, cooperation between China and Africa has shifted from advanced agricultural technology to industrial chain, from e-commerce infrastructure to biomedicine, with emerging cooperation fields flourishing.
-- Aligning development visions for shared progress
This expo is even more innovative, said Okonkwo Chinweuba Innocent from Belt and Road Africa Economic Promotion Initiative Center in Nigeria.
According to Innocent, China-Africa cooperation is expanding into new areas like digital economy, green development and finance.
In November 2023, the HIV nucleic acid quantitative testing reagent scheme of the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sansure Biotech Inc. (Sansure) passed clinical evaluation in Uganda. Sansure has helped local areas establish self-testing capabilities by providing technical support and training African technicians.
The products, solutions, and services from Sansure, with its open and compatible system, have improved the accessibility of diagnostics and provided significant assistance to the healthcare sector for the people in Uganda and across Africa, said the sales director of Jena Herbals (Uganda) Limited.
In the e-commerce sector, China's experience also supports the transformation of related industries in Africa. A Chinese company has established a localized e-commerce platform, Kilimall, in Kenya, exploring a unique "Africa overseas warehouse" that greatly shortens delivery times and stimulates cross-border trade potential. During this expo, the company looks forward to leveraging its experience in the African market to assist Chinese and African entrepreneurs in entering both markets.
Chinese financial institutions are providing strong support for the deepening of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation. The Bank of China (BOC) leverages financial technology to support the real economy by building a cross-border payment hub and promoting RMB internationalization. It has created a full-spectrum cross-border trade service system, advancing financial innovation to strengthen China-Africa economic and trade cooperation. (Edited by Yang Yifan with Xinhua Silk Road, yangyifan@xinhua.org)
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