Distinguished Guests, friends from Chinese and African Business Communities,

Good afternoon.

It is my great pleasure to join you at this sub-forum of the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) Promotion and explore new opportunities for China-Africa cooperation. 

The CIIE is the world’s first national-level exposition dedicated to imports. It serves as a major platform for China to advance high-standard opening-up and share its development opportunities with the world. More importantly, it stands as a key gateway for China and Africa to deepen trade ties and deliver win-win outcomes.

In recent years, China has steadily expanded the coverage of zero-tariff treatment for African products exported to China, streamlined customs procedures, and enhanced trade facilitation. Through these concrete actions, we have been reducing barriers, broadening channels, and creating more benefits for African goods to access China’s vast market.

The CIIE has grown into an important bridge linking African countries with the Chinese market, and African participation has grown steadily year by year. This momentum reflects not only growing trade volumes, but also Africa’s remarkable development potential, industrial competitiveness and huge influence. Beyond trade in goods, the CIIE promotes market connectivity, industrial collaboration and development empowerment. It aligns closely with the AU Agenda 2063, and strongly supports Africa’s pursuit of industrialization, agricultural modernization and economic diversification. For Africa to achieve self-driven development, the key lies in industrialization, and the core is upgrading the industrial chain. While offering African products a valuable export route, the CIIE also brings in technologies, equipment, investment and management expertise, helping Africa turn its resource endowments into industrial strengths.

The Mission of China to the African Union has consistenly prioritized advancing China-Africa economic and trade cooperation and promoting the CIIE. We have launched promotion and business matchmaking events to build platforms for African countries and enterprises and increase their participation in the CIIE. Last year, we facilitated H.E. Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, the newly appointed AU Commissioner for Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry, Minerals (ETTIM) to record a video speech for the opening ceremony of the 8th CIIE. This fully demonstrates the recognition and strong support of the AU’s senior leadership for the CIIE.

The foundation of China-Africa cooperation lies in the people, and its vitality resides in enterprises. I sincerely hope that Chinese and African entrepreneurs will make full use of the CIIE platform and the zero-tariff measures to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, industrial capacity and technology. Let us work hand in hand to build industrial chains, advance industrialization, share the big market, and achieve mutual benefit and common development!

Thank you!