China-Africa cooperation boosts development prospects

China will further deepen cooperation with Africa, a commitment of significant importance to bilateral relations and global development, officials and experts said in Beijing on Wednesday.

The 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo is set to take place in Changsha, Hunan province, from June 12 to 15, featuring more innovative exhibitions and diverse activities, said Wang Junshou, vice-governor of Hunan province.

As of now, over 12,000 participants have registered, including representatives from 44 African countries, six international organizations and more than 2,800 Chinese and African companies, business associations and financial institutions, Wang said.

"Looking forward, the Ministry of Commerce will continue to collaborate with relevant authorities to further expand the scale and variety of African exports to China, enabling African countries to share development opportunities from China's vast market, while providing Chinese enterprises and consumers with more high-quality and cost-effective options," said Shen Xiang, director of the West Asia and Africa Department under the Ministry of Commerce.

China is willing to maintain exchanges with African nations in emerging technologies and new energy, supporting Africa's accelerated development of its digital sector to seize opportunities to drive industrial upgrading through technology empowerment, said Tang Wenhong, assistant minister of commerce.

China will strengthen vocational education cooperation with African countries by establishing engineering technology institutes, aiming to cultivate a pool of professionals in industrialization and agricultural modernization, Tang added.

The ministry will encourage Chinese enterprises to align with African countries' resource endowments and industrial development plans, coordinating the development of various projects including industrial parks, logistics facilities and energy infrastructure, thereby enhancing industrial cluster effects, Shen said.

In recent years, Chinese enterprises have stepped up construction and investment in various economic and trade parks across Africa, promoting industrial chain collaboration between China and Africa, while making significant contributions to local tax revenues, employment and export earnings, Tang said.

"China-Africa economic and trade cooperation boasts a solid foundation and broad development prospects. This expo, held following the United States' reciprocal tariff policy, will serve as a model for stabilizing global economic and trade cooperation," said Niu Huayong, dean of the International Business School at Beijing Foreign Studies University.

Compared to other regional collaborations, China-Africa economic and trade cooperation remains in its early stages, with significant potential for growth in areas such as goods trade, services trade, project contracting and direct investment, Niu said.

Africa's strong demand for Chinese products, services and capital in its future development, coupled with China's industrial expertise, technical standards and organizational models, will continue to play a vital role in advancing the continent's progress, Niu added.

The expo provides a platform for Africa to showcase its resources, technologies and products, which will bolster the continent's development capacity and accelerate its integration into the global industrial chain, said Wang Peng, an associate researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences.

China-Africa economic and trade cooperation serves as a vital driver of global trade diversification, effectively reducing over-reliance on single markets, advancing balanced global economic development and setting a model for collaboration within the Global South, Wang added.