The 2024 China-Africa Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum will be held in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province

On November 8, 2024, a China-Africa Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum with the purpose of "exchanges and mutual learning, people-to-people bond and win-win cooperation" opened in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, attracting more than 400 guests from more than 40 countries and regions. The event aims to extend the friendly relations between China and Africa, explore new opportunities for cooperation, and jointly write a new chapter for the China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.

Qin Boyong, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), delivered a speech via video, stressing the important role Zhejiang plays in China-Africa cooperation, especially Jinhua's cooperation with Africa in multiple fields. He hoped that the two sides can work together in the modernization process, economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, jointly promote practical measures of China-Africa cooperation and contribute to the building of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future.

Lu Shan, vice governor of Zhejiang Province, said in his speech that Zhejiang will deeply implement the spirit of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, focus on Africa's needs and Zhejiang's capabilities, constantly expand and deepen cooperation between the two sides, and contribute Zhejiang's strength to the construction of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.

In his speech, the Permanent Secretary of the Tanzanian Ministry of Transport, Gordius Walter Kayala, conveyed the Tanzanian President's appreciation for China-Africa cooperation and congratulations on the successful holding of the Forum. He stressed that Tanzania and China are reliable partners, and this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, and he wished the friendship between the two countries would last forever.

Zhang Yangbin, deputy Secretary-General of the All-China Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and Liu Yuxi, special representative of the Chinese government on African affairs, also addressed the forum.

Zhu Chonglie, secretary of the Jinhua Municipal Party Committee, mentioned in his speech that the forum is an important event under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which has brought opportunities for the big family of China and Africa to meet, friendship and cooperation. He hoped to take the forum as a starting point to promote the development of bilateral cooperation to a higher quality, higher level and wider areas. These include fully implementing the outcomes of the Beijing Summit, jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthening people-to-people exchanges and establishing a regular exchange mechanism.

During the forum, the outcomes of the China-Africa Cultural Silk Road Exchange Month, the research results of Zhejiang Normal University on Africa, and the special report on China-Africa Cooperation to Upgrade Africa's agricultural industry Chain were released. At the same time, the China-Africa (Jinhua) Agricultural Science and Innovation Park was inaugurated, which will focus on agricultural science and technology research and development and other fields to become a comprehensive agricultural science and innovation park.

In addition, the forum also witnessed the signing ceremony of a number of projects, involving trade, investment and overseas warehouses and other fields, with a signed amount of 47.912 billion yuan, showing the firm determination and broad prospects of Zhejiang Africa cooperation.

The signing ceremony of the first batch of enterprises to settle in the China-Africa Building in Yiwu was also held during the forum. The building will set up a sales center for African brand products and create a one-stop platform for China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.

Mr. Rahmantala Mohammed Osman, Permanent Representative of the African Union in China, and Mr. Liu Hongwu, Dean of the Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, delivered keynote speeches.

The forum was hosted by Zhejiang Provincial People's Government and jointly hosted by Jinhua Municipal People's Government and Zhejiang Normal University. At the same time, a number of parallel events have been held, including the China-Africa cultural and Tourism cooperation and Exchange Conference and the meeting of the Chinese Council of the China-Africa Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, providing a broader platform for China-Africa practical cooperation.

Since the successful holding of China-Africa Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum six years ago, it has become an important platform for Zhejiang and even the whole country to cooperate and exchange with Africa. It has facilitated the signing of nearly 100 cooperation projects with Africa, and its influence in China's cooperation with Africa has continued to increase.