Xinhua Agency, Beijing, August 13Title: China-Africa trade across mountains and seas has become closer

Xinhua Agency reporters Zou Duowei, Pan Jie, Ding Le

Avocados, coffee, rubber produced in Africa, mobile phones, electric vehicles, cranes made in China... In recent years, more and more good things from China and Africa have traveled across the ocean and "flew into the homes of ordinary people."

The latest data released by the General Administration of Customs shows that in the first seven months of this year, China's imports and exports to Africa were 1.19 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.5%.

"The current China-Africa economic and trade cooperation is deepening, fruitful and full of vitality." Egypt's National Echo Network commented: "You can see a variety of African fresh fruits on the Chinese people's tables, and when African consumers decide to buy electric vehicles, Chinese companies provide them with a variety of affordable options."

Economic and trade cooperation is the "ballast stone" and "propeller" of China-Africa relations.

In 2023, China-Africa trade volume will reach a historical peak of US$282.1 billion, a year-on-year increase of 1.5%, demonstrating the strong resilience of China-Africa trade. Among them, China's imports of nuts, vegetables, flowers, and fruits from Africa increased by 130%, 32%, 14%, and 7% respectively year-on-year; exports of new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products to Africa increased significantly by 291%, 109%, and 57%.

Sang Baichuan, dean of the School of International Economics at the University of International Business and Economics, said that the leap-forward development of China-Africa trade cooperation is the result of seeking mutual benefit and win-win results based on common interests. "This is not only a strong proof of the positive results achieved by China's high-quality economic development, but also plays a huge role in driving African social development and improving the living standards of local people."

China has maintained its status as Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years. In 2023, the General Administration of Customs will release the "China-Africa Trade Index" for the first time. The index uses 2000 as the base period of 100 points and reaches 990.55 points in 2022, demonstrating the rapid and positive development trend of China-Africa trade.

Why has China-Africa trade exchanges maintained a good momentum for a long time?

"The economies of China and Africa are highly complementary." Sang Baichuan said that China has mature and applicable technology and equipment and relatively sufficient funds; while African countries have obvious advantages in human and natural resources. Strengthening trade exchanges between the two sides will help leverage their respective advantages and vast markets to achieve mutual benefit, win-win results and common development.

In recent years, as China-Africa economic and trade cooperation seeks "quality" to "new", its competitive advantages have continued to increase.

Walking through the streets of Africa, TECNO lightbox billboards are frequently visible. From its unique dark skin image algorithm to the recognition and application of small languages in Africa, as one of the first Chinese mobile phone manufacturers to enter Africa, Shenzhen Chuanyin Holdings Co., Ltd. has won competitive advantages by creating personalized and differentiated products.

Turning a single transaction into an ecological creation, and transmitting the opportunity for digital, networked and intelligent development in Africa is the epitome of China-Africa trade's exploration of new growth momentum and new development paths.

Expand "Silk Road E-commerce" cooperation, hold an e-commerce live-style African Good Things Online Shopping Festival, implement Africa's "Hundreds of Stores and Thousands of Products on the Platform" action, carry out clean energy cooperation to build low-carbon demonstration zones... While the scale of trade in industries in traditional fields such as processing continues to expand, China and Africa have continued to extend cooperation to emerging fields such as digital economy, green and low-carbon, aerospace, and financial services, continuing to inject new vitality into China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.

Irastas Mwincha, former vice chairman of the African Union Commission, said that China has promoted connectivity through digital infrastructure construction, which has changed the face of Africa and improved the lives of ordinary people in Africa.

Unswervingly promoting high-level opening up, China's large market is becoming a new opportunity in the world.

Implement zero tariffs on 98% of tariff items in some least developed countries in Africa; establish a "green channel" for African agricultural products to be exported to China to reduce trade costs; attract more African companies to join the cross-border e-commerce platform established by China, allowing African products to ride on the free ride of international logistics... China actively shares opportunities for opening up with Africa, helps Africa's high-quality specialty products expand sales channels, and enter the international market faster and smoother.

China is the largest developing country in the world, and Africa is the continent with the largest concentration of developing countries. The combined populations of China and Africa account for about one-third of the world's total population. The two hot spots for development are thousands of miles away but are closely related, and there is broad space for cooperation.

Build a pioneer zone for in-depth economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa, release the "Action Plan for the Development of China-Africa Digital Cooperation", and expand China-Africa intermediate goods trade... As China-Africa economic and trade cooperation improves and deepens, new potential is constantly being released.

Lu Daliang, director of the Statistical Analysis Department of the General Administration of Customs, said that the economies of China and Africa are developing actively. China needs more "African products" and Africa also needs more "Made in China". Bilateral trade has broad prospects for development. The 2024 China-Africa Cooperation Forum Summit will be held in Beijing, and economic and trade cooperation between the two sides is expected to further deepen.