Expo to promote African trade

To promote bilateral trade and encourage more African products to enter the Chinese market, the Ministry of Commerce will host the African Commodities Exposition in Xiamen from Sept 8 to 11.

Trade between China and Africa surpassed $10 billion in 2000 and has been increasing by over 30 percent annually for seven consecutive years. In 2007, bilateral trade went up by 32.2 percent from the previous year to $73.3 billion.

During the first half of 2008, bilateral trade amounted to $53.1 billion, up 66 percent year-on-year. China exported $23 billion to Africa, up 40 percent, and bought $30 billion from Africa, up 93 percent.