By LI Linxu

To enhance China-Africa cooperation in trade, industry, finance, and people-to-people exchanges, the State Council has approved the Overall Plan for Building a Pilot Zone for In-Depth Economic and Trade Cooperation Between China and Africa, submitted by Hunan Province and the Ministry of Commerce.

African foods and agricultural products exhibited at the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

The State Council emphasized upholding the principles of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith in China-Africa relations, while adhering to the spirit of wide consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits.

Practical measures under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will guide strategic alignment between both sides, with efforts focused on innovating economic and trade mechanisms and strengthening modern industrial and supply chains.

The pilot zone aims to deepen coordinated collaboration in trade, industry, finance, and cultural exchanges, advancing high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative and building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

The Hunan Pilot Free Trade Zone is the only one among China’s approved pilot FTZs specifically positioned as a testbed for in-depth Sino-African economic and trade cooperation.

In 2023, Hunan’s imports and exports with Africa reached 55.67 billion RMB, marking a three-year average annual growth rate of 23.1 percent.

Hunan is urged to accelerate the formulation of supporting policies and implementation plans to ensure steady and orderly development of the pilot zone.

This initiative forms a key part of China’s "Trade Promotion Program" launched in 2021 to strengthen Africa-focused economic engagement.

Editor | SONG Ziyan

Supervisor | TIAN Xueke