The fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, themed "China and Africa: Together Toward Modernization," saw 176 projects inked, valued at 11.39 billion USD. It denoted a 45.8 percent increase in the number of projects and a 10.6 percent increase in investment value compared to the previous edition.

Hosted in Changsha, Hunan province in central China, it is a crucial platform for implementing the economic initiatives of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). This year's expo, held from June 12 to 15, featured more than 30 economic and trade activities to advance "10 partnership actions" for jointly promoting modernization.

Among the standout projects signed during the event were the Nigeria-China Agricultural Science and Technology Park and the Lagos-Abuja High-Speed Rail projects.

Hunan's advantage in engineering machinery was on full display. The immersive exhibition by the Sany Group attracted the attention of representatives from across Africa. Many lauded Sany's contributions to Africa's energy transition and sustainable development.

Agriculture remains a core pillar of China-Africa economic cooperation. Gambian farmer Musa Darboe exemplified the results of that cooperation. Since 2019, guided by Chinese experts from Longping Hi-Tech, Darboe has expanded his farm from three hectares to a whopping 100 hectares. The entire production process on the farm has been mechanized, resulting in a yield of seven tonnes per hectare, two to three times the local average.

Designated by China's Ministry of Commerce as the first hybrid rice technology training base for African assistance, Longping Hi-Tech has delivered over 200 agricultural training sessions to more than 7,000 officials and technicians across 53 African countries.

"Developing quality seeds and transferring best practices is essential to building resilient agricultural systems in Africa," said Weng Yong, deputy director of Longping Hi-Tech International Training Institute.

Financial services played a key role in supporting China-Africa trade cooperation during the expo. China's Bank of Communications unveiled its financial service plan, with 10 measures to enhance trade settlement convenience and foster cross-border industrial chains between China and Africa.

In 2024, the bank reported a 136 percent year-on-year increase in cross-border RMB settlements with Africa, a 36 percent rise in foreign exchange remittance business, and a 305 percent surge in cross-border trade financing.

To transform exhibition traffic into tangible economic growth, Hunan is accelerating the development of a pilot zone for in-depth China-Africa economic cooperation. The expo's permanent venue in Changsha, spanning 10,000 square meters, has become a vibrant window for China-Africa exchanges since its launch in 2021.

During the expo, the China-Africa Economic Headquarters Base project launched a global investment promotion and signing ceremony. Scheduled for completion in 2027, the project will integrate corporate headquarters, small offices and home offices, a star-rated hotel, commercial centers, and exhibition facilities to become a new hub of China-Africa trade and commerce.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of FOCAC's establishment. Under its leadership, China-Africa relations have achieved remarkable progress. The China-Africa trade volume has increased nearly 30-fold and Chinese investment in Africa risen almost 100 times, delivering substantial benefits to people on both sides.

Shen Yumou, director-general of the Hunan Provincial Department of Commerce, affirmed that the province will continue organizing the expo and build a pilot cooperation zone, contributing to a new era of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future.