Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. The fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, slated for June 12 to 15 in Changsha, the capital of central China’s Hunan Province, is set to deepen diplomatic relations, elevating to building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future.
The event comes as Zimbabwe and China are celebrating a landmark 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
This year, the theme of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo is “China and Africa: Together Toward Modernisation”.
Tang Wenhong, China’s assistant minister of Commerce, in his brief to the media, said the expo is a major event to carry out the spirit of the agreements reached at last year’s Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
He added that it is one of the most important activities between China and African countries in the field of economy and trade this year.
The event will involve more than 20 economic and trade activities, covering areas such as infrastructure, textiles and clothing, green minerals, and more.
While China is making efforts to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation with Africa, it is ironic that, on the other hand, the United States has imposed prohibitive trade tariffs that hinder economic cooperation with the continent.
The imminent China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, therefore, comes in handy to give African countries more trade alternatives to build their economies and also open avenues to boost trade volumes between China and Africa.
According to Tang Wenhong, Chinese Assistant Minister of Commerce, in 2024, the trade volume between China and Africa reached US295,6 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4,8%, setting a new historical high for the fourth consecutive year.
China has maintained its position as Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. China’s imports from Africa were worth US$116,8 billion, an increase of 6,9%, and exports to Africa totalled US$178,8 billion, an increase of 3,5%. The advantage of China’s super-large market provides vast opportunities for African goods,” said Tang.
So far, delegates from 44 African countries, 6 international organizations, 23 Chinese provinces, as well as more than 2 800 Chinese and African enterprises, business associations, and financial institutions that make up a total of over 12 000 people have registered to attend the expo.
As the build-up to the expo grows, from May 13 to 15, 2025, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised a visit to Hunan, the hosting province in China, for members of the African diplomatic corps in China.
Senior diplomats, including ambassadors and chargés d’affaires a.i. from 50 countries such as Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Zambia, Morocco, and the representative of the African Union in China, participated in the delegation.
Special envoy Zhai Jun of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue accompanied the delegation.
Secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee Shen Xiaoming met with the delegation with Shen stating that President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the development of China-Africa relations.
In recent years, driven by the establishment of national platforms for cooperation with Africa in Hunan, including the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo and the Pioneering Zone for In-depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation, Hunan has seen increasingly frequent and in-depth exchanges and cooperation with African countries, and is becoming an important bridgehead for China’s economic and trade cooperation with Africa.
Hunan will therefore be significant to visiting delegates.
Chairman Mao was born in Hunan. It is also the birthplace of Yuan Longping, the father of hybrid rice and a famous scientist. Hunan has also created several flagship cooperation initiatives, such as the China-Africa Innovation Demonstration Park, as well as industrial transfer zones. Hunan also facilitates outbound investment sectors specifically for foreign and local partnerships with African countries.
Thus, Hunan has elevated African cooperation as a core part of its opening-up strategy. By permanently hosting the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) in Changsha, Hunan has achieved a historic milestone and symbolic triumph. This commitment — anchored in long-term, policy-driven strategies rather than transient initiatives — underscores Hunan’s designation as a pioneer zone for deepening China-Africa economic and trade ties.
As the 4th CAETE unfolds, Zimbabwe is poised to shine on this stage. Blessed with rich resources, a vibrant cultural heritage, and burgeoning economic potential, the nation will leverage this platform to showcase its unique offerings while fortifying bilateral trade and investment with China.
Building on 45 years of fraternal ties between China and Zimbabwe, the expo will not only amplify Zimbabwe’s presence in global markets but also pave the way for a future of shared prosperity, where collaboration and mutual advancement illuminate the path toward modernisation for both nations.
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