China-Africa expo seals $11.4 billion in deals

The fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo announced 176 signed projects worth $11.4 billion, marking a 45.8 percent increase in project count and a 10.6 percent rise in value compared to the previous edition, a news conference announced on Sunday in Changsha, Hunan province.

Visitor numbers surged significantly. By Sunday noon, attendance at the main exhibition hall had surpassed 200,000 – doubling the previous expo's figures.

On-site transactions and intended sales reached approximately 2.5 billion yuan ($348 million). The Gaoqiao market venue hosted over 40 events and inspection tours, including the official unveiling of permanent country pavilions for Zambia and Namibia.

A concurrent engineering machinery remanufacturing exhibition in Xiangtan drew more than 150 exhibitors, 2,400 purchasers, and over 12,000 visitors, generating intended orders exceeding 200 million yuan.

A total of 26 African nations and 23 Chinese provincial regions established dedicated pavilions, while nearly 2,100 enterprises participated, including 764 exhibitors from 43 African countries, alongside roughly 12,000 domestic and international buyers.

The expo facilitated significant trade connections. An online shopping event for African products promoted over 200 premium African agricultural and food items through livestreams and supermarkets, boosting their entry into China. Six parallel events occurred, and 14 African countries, including Rwanda and Angola, hosted specialized trade exchanges and promotion events.

Project matchmaking reached unprecedented levels, with 293 opportunities valued at $43.16 billion announced – a 208 percent increase in quantity and a 410 percent surge in value from the previous expo. Ten African nations, including Namibia, presented 200 project cooperation demands, far exceeding past records.

The Hunan Provincial People's Government and China's Ministry of Commerce co-hosted the expo, which ran from Thursday to Sunday. The event attracted participation from 53 African countries, 11 international organizations, 27 Chinese provincial regions, and over 4,700 enterprises, chambers of commerce, and financial institutions.

Zhu Youfang contributed to the story.