Building together for the future

A1 This positive trend will continue in the foreseeable future because the achievements of development benefit both China and Africa.

We must not ignore what business people on both sides can contribute. For example, there are many African business people in Guangdong province and Zhejiang province. They sell competitively priced but quality products made in China to Africa, greatly improving the living standards of ordinary Africans.

A2 In addition to the lack of infrastructure, obstacles to economic development in Africa include the lack of persistent planning and the lack of talent in all sectors. The dearth of talent stems from the scourge of colonialism in the past, one of whose byproducts was a lack of spending on education.

Apart from providing scholarships to African students and helping African countries train professionals, China has established various vocational training schools and other educational training institutions in Africa.

A3 Many African countries are underdeveloped in their production methods－a lack of improved varieties and agricultural technologies that are suitable to local conditions. Most African countries have incomplete support services and facilities in many areas, too.

China and other countries need to open up markets for African agricultural products.

A4 Sound and stable policies are needed if Africa is to develop in a better way. African countries need to adopt more proactive and reliable policies to mobilize domestic resources.

They should also learn comprehensively when drawing on China's expertise and successes with special economic zones and industrial parks, given that they exemplify China's development. All of China has served as an important development hinterland for special economic zones and industrial parks－providing talent, support services and industrial supporting industries.

A5 It is fair to say that there is still much room for growth in the trade figures as long as China and Africa take steps to tap the potential of economic collaboration.

China is now a global e-commerce power and is promoting e-commerce to further benefit the people of the world. E-commerce is likely to play an increasingly positive role along with the deepening of China-Africa trade and its continued expansion.

Zhu Ming, associate researcher at the Center for West Asian and African Studies at Shanghai Institutes for International Studies