Special Feature | China Africa Industrial Chain Cooperation Builds a Road of Development Together

Nairobi, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China Africa industrial chain cooperation builds a path of development together

Xinhua News Agency reporters Li Zhuoqun, Xu Jiatong, and Xu Ruiqing

In recent years, China Africa economic and trade cooperation has continuously made new progress. In 2024, the trade volume between China and Africa exceeded 295.56 billion US dollars, an increase of 4.8%, setting a new historical record. China has maintained its position as Africa's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. Currently, under the guidance of the "Ten Major Partnership Actions", Chinese and African enterprises are strengthening deep cooperation across the entire industry chain, promoting the transformation and upgrading of China Africa cooperation, and adding momentum to the sustainable development of the African economy.

Building a new engine for independent production

In June in Ivory Coast, trucks loaded with cocoa beans lined up in the PK24 industrial park in the northwest of the economic capital Abidjan. In the silver gray factory building, Chinese engineers are working with Ivorian workers to debug the conveyor equipment, and the air is filled with the rich aroma of roasted cocoa.

The first state-owned modern cocoa processing plant in Cote d'Ivoire, constructed by a Chinese enterprise, covers an area of 315 acres and has an annual processing capacity of 50000 tons and a storage capacity of 140000 tons. After being put into operation, it will become a local cocoa industry training base, marking a crucial step in the industrial upgrading of the "Cocoa Kingdom".

We are finally processing cocoa on our own land! "Exclaimed farmer Etienne Quaku Camille." Previously, cocoa was shipped abroad without processing, but now Chinese companies have helped us change this situation

China's experience in agricultural development is an important reference for African countries. Chinese enterprises not only build factories, but also bring solutions for upgrading the industrial chain, "said Ajumani, Minister of State and Minister of Agriculture of Cote d'Ivoire, in evaluating the agricultural cooperation between China and Cote d'Ivoire.

In the Nyagatare region of the Oriental Province of Rwanda, the scorching sun shines on the chili fields of the Gasora Agricultural Products Company. The chili peppers here have appeared at the first China International Import Expo and the first China Africa Economic and Trade Expo.

The company's general manager, Dieudone Tuwahirva, said that in order to meet the huge demand in the Chinese market, the company signed an agreement with Hunan Xiangnong International Company in 2024 to expand production capacity, plan to build cold storage, drying facilities, and expand planting.

In recent years, China and Africa have continuously deepened industrial chain cooperation, forming a virtuous cycle of mutual promotion of trade and investment. At present, China has established capacity cooperation mechanisms with 15 African countries, and Chinese enterprises have participated in the planning, construction, and operation of over 50 industrial parks in African countries, attracting companies from around the world to invest in Africa.

China is not only an important trading partner for Africa, but also a key supporter of its production capacity cooperation and technological upgrading, "said Humphrey Mosi, Director of the China Studies Center at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania

Cultivate local technological forces

The development of the industrial chain cannot be separated from a high-quality talent team. While promoting infrastructure construction, China Africa industrial chain cooperation also attaches great importance to talent cultivation. Through vocational education and technical training, it aims to create a new force of industries with independent production and processing capabilities for Africa.

In five modern factories located in the southern suburbs of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, high-quality cashmere yarn from Inner Mongolia, China, is carefully crafted by over 3000 local workers through more than 20 processes to become high-quality cashmere products that are sold globally. This is the daily work of Inner Mongolia Luwang Cashmere Co., Ltd. in the Madagascar factory.

In the early days of its establishment in 1997, this Chinese company provided technical training to new employees from scratch to enhance their textile skills and professional ethics. Since its establishment, the company has trained over 20000 textile professionals, covering multiple occupations. These talents are distributed throughout local textile enterprises and hold key technical and management positions in many similar enterprises, "said Xia Yonghai, the general manager of the company

50 year old Ribuharimanitra Niaina Rado has been working at Deer King for nearly 20 years. He said, "After joining the company, from a trainee to an operator, and then to a supervisor, this experience has taught me a lot. What makes me most proud is being able to introduce advanced technology to Madagascar

In recent years, the pace of Chinese enterprises entering Africa has been accelerating, and the demand for vocational and technical talents has been increasing, promoting the acceleration of China's vocational education going global. Chinese vocational education brands represented by Luban Workshop have taken root in many African countries, gradually exploring and forming a market-oriented and industry education integration model.

Kenyan international relations scholar Kavins Adhir said that the investment and deep cultivation of Chinese enterprises in Africa not only bring employment opportunities, but also comprehensively improve the technical level of local labor through systematic training, laying a talent foundation for sustainable development in Africa.

Helping African products go global

On the basis of infrastructure construction and talent cultivation, China Africa industrial chain cooperation provides vast market space for African products through various platforms and mechanisms, helping African products go global.

In Kenya, the Kiri Mall website founded by Chinese entrepreneurs has developed into a leading e-commerce platform in East Africa. Nairobi merchant Macharia sells televisions produced locally by Chinese enterprises through this platform, with an annual sales revenue of 96 million Kenyan shillings (approximately 5.32 million yuan).

The Nairobi Weichuang TV production line is busy, and most of the TVs sold in Macharia come from here. Hu Chaoyang, Executive Director of Weichuang, said, "About 40% of the components of our products are produced locally, and we will further improve the localization rate according to market demand in the future

Thanks to more and more Chinese enterprises investing in non production, local businesses can obtain more high-quality and cost-effective products, and consumers also benefit, "said Wu Mixiang, Vice President of Qili Mall website

In addition to localized e-commerce platforms, Chinese cross-border e-commerce platforms such as Xiyin and Temu are also actively expanding into the African market, helping more African companies connect with Chinese technology and product resources, and share the dividends of the global digital economy.

China is constantly expanding its openness to Africa. Since December 1st last year, China has granted 100% tariff free treatment to all least developed countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, including 33 African countries. In addition, China also uses platforms such as the China Africa Economic and Trade Expo, China International Import Expo, and Canton Fair to help African companies enter the Chinese market and connect with world resources.

At the Kenya session of the China Africa Economic and Trade Expo in April this year, avocado exporter Newton Ngurey said, "The demand for Kenyan products in the Chinese market is strong, and we are integrating the entire avocado supply in Kenya. Now is our opportunity to enter the Chinese market

From infrastructure to talent, from production to sales, China Africa industrial chain cooperation is moving towards deeper levels. China has taken practical actions to help Africa enhance its capacity for independent development and achieve a leap from "resource export" to "value co creation".