Chinese premier calls for higher-level China-Africa economic, trade cooperation

China and Africa should work more closely to elevate economic and trade cooperation to higher levels, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said at the opening ceremony of the eighth Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs held in Beijing on Friday.

Delivering a speech at the event, Li said that President Xi Jinping made a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2024 summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on Thursday, announced a package of new measures for pragmatic cooperation with African countries, and proposed a package of major initiatives on both sides' joint pursuit of modernization, and modernization in the Global South, which fully demonstrates the global significance of Chinese modernization and its value to the times.

China-Africa economic and trade cooperation has achieved fruitful outcomes in recent years, and provided strong support for jointly advancing modernization, he said.

Li noted that the two sides should further strengthen market alignment, promote industrial integration, and enhance the innovation-driven momentum, so as to elevate economic and trade cooperation to higher levels.

He expressed the hope that both Chinese and African entrepreneurs could follow the trend of the times, steadfastly deepen cooperation, and integrate corporate development and cooperation into the broader context of China-Africa friendship to play a greater role in advancing the development of both China and Africa, and the world.

About 1,000 attendees were present at the opening ceremony of the conference, including African leaders attending the FOCACA summit and business representatives from both sides.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of the Republic of Senegal, African co-chair of the forum, representatives of African countries, including Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Comorian President Azali Assoumani, Sao Tome and Principe's Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada, and entrepreneur representatives all delivered speeches at the conference.

They said that the new measures for pragmatic cooperation announced at this year's FOCAC summit will greatly facilitate the realization of modernization in African countries, adding that Africa is willing to deepen cooperation with China and jointly build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

Aligned with the theme of the 2024 FOCAC summit, the eighth Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs focuses on two topics -- promotion of integration of industrial and supply chains and promotion of the development of emerging industries.

Themed "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future", the 2024 FOCAC summit, which runs from Wednesday to Friday, aims to strengthen friendship and outline future cooperation between China and Africa.

Chinese premier calls for higher-level China-Africa economic, trade cooperation

Chinese premier calls for higher-level China-Africa economic, trade cooperation

The ongoing China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) has attracted scores of new participants this year, with repeat participants also making their mark at the fair.

Themed "Global Services, Shared Prosperity," the trade fair, opened in China's capital city Beijing on Thursday and runs till Monday.

The CIFTIS is becoming more and more international, with a total of 36 Belt and Road partners showcasing their products.

Tharaka Dissanayake who works at the Sri Lankan Embassy in China has participated in the fair many times. He came to promote tea culture this time and believes that tea culture can better strengthen cooperation and exchanges between the two countries.

"For any commodity, it's a huge market. Obviously, this is one of the greatest platforms close to the Chinese consumer, to introduce ourselves, introduce our products, whatever the services or innovation," said Abeysekara, third secretary of the Sri Lankan Embassy in China.

An old friend of the fair was playing an African drum and the rhythmic sound attracted a large crowd.

"I'm here again. Many people took my WeChat and my contact, my number. So they called me, they ordered and they need more," said a Ghanaian exhibitor.

Dewi Avilia, Counselor for Social and Cultural Affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in China, is also attending the exhibition for the second time. She emphasized the need to promote cultural tourism as recent policies have made it easy for more Indonesian friends to travel to China.

"Chengdu and Chongqing have become two of the most popular tourist destinations for Indonesia. A lot of people now are not only talking about Shanghai, but are also talking about Chengdu, visiting the pandas and also Chongqing, because of the landscape. I think it is a good start," said Avilia.

This year's fair has also attracted huge number of new participants showcasing quality products.

"This is my first time. It's a great opportunity that we are able to showcase our products and to let people know about Uganda and Ugandan culture," said Mukisa Joseph, a Ugandan exhibitor.

"The expectations about this fair is to meet many people in the coffee industry. So far we have had a lot of consumers who are interested in roasted coffee. I'm still expecting more," said Mutijima Emma, a Rwandan exhibitor.

An Uzbek exhibitor, who is also a newcomer, initially intended to use this platform to promote his goods, but unexpectedly met partners from many other countries and found potential business opportunities here.

"This is a good platform to see the different global products and see the Chinese market all together. I met so many different people, but I also met many foreign people who are interested in our products. So I call these kind of events more like a globalization event," said Asilbek Khonkhujaev, an Uzbek exhibitor.

The fair has attracted attendees from 85 countries and international organizations, with over 450 Fortune 500 enterprises and companies taking the lead in their respective industries.

Newcomers, old friends gather at CIFTIS to seek new opportunities