A staff member is seen during the second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, Sept. 26, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)

The Information Office of Hunan Provincial People's Government held a press conference on the Third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) in Changsha on June 6, 2023. It announced that, approved by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the expo will be held from June 29 to July 2 in Changsha.

The event will feature more than 40 activities of various kinds. During the expo, a China-Africa trade index featuring a digital and scientifically-based evaluation system will be released for the first time. This index will serve as a reliable indicator for businesses engaged in economic and trade cooperation with their African partners. A report on China-Africa economic and trade relations will continue to be released. This report will provide a systematic overview of the recent advancements in China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, as well as projections for future trends and developments. Besides, nearly 20 achievements will also be announced, including the report on the use of RMB in Africa and the "100 Enterprises and 1,000 Villages" classic cases of Chinese enterprises fulfilling social responsibility in Africa.

An array of new cooperation projects, agreements, and achievements will be reached at the expo. There are now 145 cooperation projects to be signed and dovetailed during the event, with the total amount exceeding 10 billion USD.

The 2023 CAETE will set up a main venue, a main exhibition hall, and a sub-exhibition hall at the Changsha International Conference Center, Changsha International Convention and Exhibition Center, and China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion and Innovation Park (Hunan Gaoqiao Grand Market), respectively. The main venue will consist of a comprehensive pavilion, an African enterprise and commodity pavilion, a Chinese enterprise and commodity pavilion, a Chinese provincial, regional, and municipal pavilion, a domestic and foreign trade integration pavilion, and an outdoor exhibition area, with a total exhibition area of 100,000 square meters. A variety of colorful and captivating activities, such as the Quality African Products Online Shopping Festival, Livestream Sales Promotion, African Barista Championship Challenge, and African Goodies Promotion Conference will be held at the sub venues.

As of June 5, representatives from 50 African countries and eight international organizations have registered to attend the event. Twenty-two national ministries and commissions including the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 26 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities such as Shandong and Hubei provinces; 764 central enterprises, national business associations, financial institutions, and local enterprises have registered. The total number of participants was expected to exceed 10,000, including about 800 foreign guests.

Themed "Common Development for a Shared Future," the expo will be co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the People's Government of Hunan Province. The guest countries of honor at the expo will be Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zambia. Shandong and Hubei provinces will present as theme provinces.

Translator: Yu Jiangjiang

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn