On November 7, 2026, the Forum on China-Africa Economic, Trade and Cultural Cooperation was held at the Digital Trade Port of Yiwu Global Digital Trade Centre in Yiwu, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province. Hosted by the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province, the forum brought together more than 400 guests from 39 countries and regions, who, under the theme of “Economic and Trade Prosperity, Cultural Mutual Learning, Win-Win Partnership, and People-to-People Bonds”, discussed new opportunities for high-quality China-Africa cooperation.
This year’s forum focused on economic and trade cooperation as its main thrust, highlighting the principle of letting the market play the leading role and enabling major platforms to support and deliver big cooperation initiatives. For the first time, the main venue was set in Yiwu, showcasing open platforms such as the Yiwu International Trade Market, the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Centre, and the Chinagoods digital platform, as well as institutional innovations including market procurement trade, cross-border e-commerce, and overseas warehouse development.
Strengthening investment cooperation is an important pathway for China and Africa to deepen industrial and supply chain integration, jointly tackle challenges, and achieve common development. During the forum, 49 China-Africa cooperation projects were signed, including the Kinshasa Yiwu Market project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the 105MW photovoltaic project in Tati, Botswana, the China-Africa Cross-border Logistics Supply Chain Ecosystem Co-building project, and African mineral import projects, with a total value of 40.96 billion yuan. The projects cover trade, overseas investment, engineering contracting, and foreign cooperation, among other areas.
Side events supporting economic and trade cooperation were equally rich. A series of economic and trade exchange activities held concurrently further promoted industrial and supply chain coordination, supported Africa’s green development and the global expansion of Zhejiang’s competitive industries, and helped achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. These included the China-Africa Industrial Cooperation and Sustainable Development Exchange Conference, the China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Cooperation Exchange Conference, Forum on China-Africa Industrial Cooperation and Cross-border E-commerce Development and the Second National China-Africa Trade Index Seminar, and the 2026 China-Africa Trade Commodity Exhibition.
The forum released a number of cooperation outcomes. Two important outcomes under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation were unveiled: the China-Africa Trade Digitalisation Trust Verification Platform, released by China Article Numbering Center Co., Ltd., and the 2026 Corporate Social Responsibility Report of Chinese Business in Africa, released by the China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals & Chemicals Importers & Exporters and the China Alliance for Social Responsibility of Chinese Enterprises in Africa. In terms of economic and trade cooperation, Yiwu released World’s Yiwu: Bridging China and Africa Through Trade — A New China-Africa Trade & Economic Cooperation Model, showcasing Yiwu’s new mechanisms and pathways for business cooperation with the African market. The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Zhejiang Provincial Committee released the Zero-Tariff Trade with Africa Compliance Guide, helping to enhance the quality and efficiency of practical China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.
The 15th Meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum was held concurrently. Founded in 2011 and later incorporated into the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the forum has held 14 sessions in China and Africa, producing a series of think tank outcomes with international influence. Among them, four outcomes, including the “China-Africa Dar es Salaam Consensus” jointly released by the forum and scholars from more than 50 African countries, were written into the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027). This year’s 15th meeting, themed “Openness, Cooperation, Mutual Learning and Shared Development: China and Africa Joining Hands to Advance Modernisation”, featured four sub-topics, including “Advance the Comprehensive Zero-tariff Arrangement and Establish a New Framework for China Africa Cooperation on Industrial and Supply Chains”. It released outcomes including the “Think Tank Action Declaration on Advancing Modernisation in the Global South Through China-Africa Cooperation” and the “China-Africa Consensus on Mutual Learning Between Civilisations”. African think tanks from South Africa, Gabon, and other countries signed cooperation agreements with the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University.
As one of the important side events under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the Forum on China-Africa Economic, Trade and Cultural Cooperation has seen its profile steadily rise and its influence continue to expand, becoming an important platform for Zhejiang to serve the country’s overall diplomacy and support the modernisation of the Global South. Since 2024, the forum has facilitated the signing of more than 100 cooperation projects with Africa, with a total value exceeding 120 billion yuan, injecting new momentum into China-Africa cooperation as it moves toward higher quality, deeper levels, and broader areas.
African Times has published this article in partnership with Xinhua News Agency
