The 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo will be held in Changsha between June 29 and July 2, according to the 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) as well as the Pioneering Zone for In-depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Conference opened in Beijing recently. 

30 activities in five categories to be held

On the theme of “Common Development for a Shared Future”, the expo will focus on the key areas and emerging fields of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, during which there will be 30 activities in five categories of major activities, high-end forums, matchmaking and negotiation, thematic seminars and supporting activities. 

The main venue, main exhibition hall and the sub-exhibition hall of this expo are located in Changsha International Conference Center, Changsha International Convention and Exhibition Center, and China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Innovation Demonstration Park (Hunan Gaoqiao Market) respectively.

Among them, the main exhibition hall boasts six indoor single exhibition halls and one outdoor exhibition area, with an exhibition area of about 90,000 square meters, an increase of 27,000 square meters over the previous session. 

A comprehensive pavilion, an African enterprise and commodity pavilion, a Chinese enterprise and commodity pavilion, a Chinese provincial, regional and municipal pavilion, and a domestic and foreign trade integration pavilion will be set up to display the achievements of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, the profile of guests of honor, themed provinces, central enterprises, provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, African high-quality characteristic products, and China's production capacity, products, and services suitable for African markets. 

The sub-exhibition hall mainly serves as a permanent exhibition hall of the expo. Image booths of 13 cities and 1 prefecture in Hunan Province will be set up. The outdoor exhibition area will display engineering, mining and agricultural machinery, as well as prefabricated buildings and commercial vehicles. 

In addition, it will be benchmarked against China’s advanced exhibitions and use more advanced technologies to ensure high-quality display effects, and provide considerable services for suppliers and buyers during the expo. 

The expo will showcase more Chinese and African products, and provide good services and integrated support in logistics, finance and productive service industries. It will develop itself into a centralized trading center for Chinese and African products. During the expo, experience will be continuously shared, and the report on China-Africa economic and trade relations will be released. Furthermore, the China-Africa Trade Index will be released for the first time.  

Following the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, the pioneering zone for in-depth China-Africa economic and trade cooperation also settled in Hunan Province. Now, the construction of the pioneering zone has been fully started and achieved phase results. 

The exploration of new paths for sustainable development has been accelerated, and new platforms for business distribution have been gradually established. New projects for key cooperation have been vigorously promoted, and new channels for international logistics have been steadily expanded.

“Test field” for innovation in China-Africa economic and trade cooperation mechanisms to be built

The China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo and the pioneering zone for in-depth China-Africa economic and trade cooperation are two important measures for China to further promote economic and trade cooperation with Africa.

All sectors of China and Africa are welcomed to actively participate in the 3rd expo, continue to pay attention to the construction of the pioneering zone, and make positive contributions to boosting the high-quality development of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation and building a high-level community of shared destiny for China and Africa.

Hunan becomes the permanent host of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, which is held every two years. The first two expos drew 53 African countries, more than 10 international organizations, 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China, 29 central ministries and commissions, more than 200 central enterprises and subsidiaries, and thousands of Chinese and African enterprises, business associations, and financial institutions to participate in the exhibition.

The expo has achieved fruitful results, and become a new platform for the implementation of economic and trade measures of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and new window on local economic and trade cooperation with Africa in China.