The 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) Photo: VCG

The 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo wrapped up with fruitful results, as the event, after review by the organizing committee, announced 176 signed projects with a total value of $11.39 billion, up 45.8 percent in project numbers and up 10.6 percent in project value compared with the previous edition, the organizers told a press conference on Sunday.

Chen Zhuoyi, an official of the Hubei Provincial People's Government, announced these figures as the four-day event came to an end on Sunday in Changsha, Central China's Hubei Province.

According to Chen, during the expo, 14 African countries, including Rwanda and Angola, held special trade exchanges and promotional talks, marking the highest number of special events hosted by African nations in the expo's history.

In addition, a total of 293 cooperation projects were announced, valued at $43.16 billion, an increase of 208 percent in project numbers and a rise of 410 percent in value compared with the previous edition. Ten African countries, including Namibia, announced 200 project cooperation demands, significantly surpassing previous editions, Chen noted.

Nearly 2,100 domestic and foreign enterprises participated in the expo, including 764 exhibitors from 43 African countries, accounting for more than 30 percent. As of noon on Sunday, the main exhibition hall recorded more than 200,000 visitors, double the previous edition, with on-site transactions or intended transactions expected to reach 2.5 billion yuan ($348.5 million), the official noted.

Shen Yumou, head of the Hunan provincial commerce department, noted that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the starting year for implementing the outcomes of the Summit of the FOCAC held in Beijing last year. The holding of this expo is timely and significant.

We will fully leverage the expo's outcomes, follow up on advancing cooperation projects and ensure more results take root and bear fruit, Shen said.

"The event provides a platform for interaction and sharing investment ideas that will lead to strategic partnerships, increase business linkages and enhance trade and investments for Kenya and the larger African region [with China]," Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry of Kenya Lee Kinyanjui told the Global Times on Sunday.

He added that the government of Kenya is undertaking a targeted investor roadshow in five provinces in China in key critical sectors that include manufacturing on the back of this event, expressing a willingness to work together with China to strengthen partnerships and forge ahead with a shared purpose to unlock Africa's vast potential and opportunities in China.

A business dinner between Angolan and Chinese entrepreneurs took place in Changsha during the expo, the Embassy of Angola in China told the Global Times in a statement on Sunday.

The opening remarks were delivered by Angola's Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rui Minguês de Oliveira, who highlighted the excellent relations of friendship and cooperation between China and Angola. He acknowledged China's continued support to Angola across various sectors, particularly in infrastructure, health, and education, according to the embassy.

"The expo has become a regular, institutionalized platform for promoting in-depth trade and investment cooperation between China and Africa, promoting mutual understanding and exchanges," Song Wei, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Song highlighted the China-Africa industrial chain collaboration among 30 economic and trade activities of the event, which showed China is willing to engage in deep, full-industry-chain cooperation with Africa to support its industrialization and modernization. 

Chinese enterprises will conduct localized production in Africa, helping the continent integrate into global value chains and unlock its independent development potential, the expert noted.

Lin Jian, a spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, told a press conference on June 11 that in recent years, spearheaded by the FOCAC, China-Africa relations have achieved great leaps forward. China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China have established strategic partnerships, and China has been the largest trading partner for Africa for 16 years in a row.  

In the first five months of 2025, China's total trade with Africa reached 963 billion yuan, up by 12.4 percent year-on-year, hitting a record high for this period of the year, the spokesperson said.