Hunan now a hotbed for innovation, trade

Economic exchanges between the province and the continent have seen continuous growth over the past decade. Last year, the value of Hunan's exports to Africa reached 40 billion yuan, up 38.5 percent year-on-year.

Additionally, 37 countries in Africa have set up exhibition halls featuring their products in the Pilot Zone for In-depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation in Changsha's Yuhua district.

Customers can purchase an array of African products, including dried chili from Rwanda, coffee produced in Ethiopia and tea imported from Kenya.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has been casting a shadow over the global market, the economic and trade cooperation between Hunan and African countries is still growing steadily.

The Promotion Conference for China (Hunan)-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation began in Changsha on July 28. Fourteen economic and trade cooperation agreements and projects with a total value of nearly $170 million were signed between Hunan and some African countries at the event site.

Zhu Youfang contributed to this story.