On May 21, the State Council Information Office held a press conference announcing that the fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo will take place from June 12 to 15 in Changsha, Hunan. With the theme "China and Africa: Together Toward Modernization", the event is co-hosted by the People's Government of Hunan Province and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. This is one of the most significant economic and trade exchange activities between China and African countries this year.

The Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo will invite five African countries - the Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa and Nigeria - as guest countries of honor, with Hubei Province and Chongqing Municipality serving as guest provinces (municipalities) of honor. Five African guest countries will construct specially designed booths, while another 20 African countries will set up national pavilions to collectively showcase their national profiles and featured products.

Till present, over 12,000 participants have registered for the conference, including representatives from 44 African countries, 6 international organizations, 23 provinces and municipalities of China as well as more than 2,800 Chinese and African enterprises, business associations and financial institutions. Their discussions will focus on transforming exhibition traffic into economic and trade growth, thereby unleashing comprehensive effects.

Compared to previous sessions, corporate participation has been more enthusiastic. The Expo places greater emphasis on market demand, from exhibition zone setup and event planning to project matching and targeted reception, actively providing channels and pathways for enterprises to deepen cooperation and enhance customers engagement. For the present, a number of African enterprises and financial institutions, such as National Cotton Corporation of Mali and First Bank of Nigeria, have signed up for the trade fair. During this Session, Chinese and foreign delegates will visit the Pilot Zone for In-Depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation and key provincial industrial parks to witness the dynamism of local economic engagement with Africa.

Compared to previous sessions, this year's Expo features more innovative exhibitions, highlighting professionalism, "African flair" and distinctive characteristics.

The Expo closely aligns with the industrial demands of China and Africa, focusing on facilitating supply-procurement connections and creating distinctive exhibition features. The main exhibition hall is located at the Changsha International Convention and Exhibition Center, with a planned exhibition area of 100,000 square meters across "six halls and one zone," featuring sections for smart mining technology and equipment, clean energy, energy conservation and environmental protection, modern agricultural machinery and construction machinery. In addition, a sub-venue has been set up at the Expo’s permanent exhibition hall (Hunan Gaogiao Grand Market), and the Xiangtan Central International Machinery Park will display remanufactured construction machinery.

The variety and quantity of African exhibits have become more diverse, with over 800 distinctive products from across the continent making a collective appearance, including Namibia's chili sauce, Kenya’s fresh flowers and malachite bracelets, Benin's sweet breadfruit, Ghana's black soap, Tanzania's sapphires, South Africa’s red wine and ostrich egg handicrafts, as well as Congo-Brazzaville’s essential oils and framed paintings. This rich assortment enables buyers and consumers to authentically experience the essence of African culture.

In distinctiveness, a renowned brand exhibition for China-Africa cooperation was established for the first time, featuring a group of influential Chinese enterprises and brands in Africa, which will further enhance their visibility and reputation. For example, the China-Africa Fashion Industry Pavilion will intensively display fashion accessories, beauty and personal care products, electronics, sports facilities and equipment to meeting the need of African friends loving beauty and sports. The China-Africa Culture and Tourism Exhibition will showcase premium African travel routes and outdoor leisure tourism products, fostering cultural exchange and mutual learning, as well as win-win outcomes in the tourism market.

The main exhibition hall will be open to the public from June 13 to 15, one day longer than the previous session. Citizens may make advance reservations for free admission.

The schedule of events for this Expo is even more diverse. As a key platform for taking economic and trade measures of the FOCAC, this Expo will organize over 20 economic and trade activities centered on the "Ten Partnership Actions for China-Africa Modernization", including matchmaking exchanges, investment-trade linkages, and project negotiations, covering cooperative infrastructure, textiles and green minerals, as well as themes like China-Africa youth innovation and entrepreneurship, and CEO dialogues. Sister provinces/municipalities including Jiangxi, Hubei or Chongqing, and embassies of Angola and Rwanda will host dedicated economic and trade exchanges.

In 2024, China-Africa trade volume reached $295.6 billion, with a year-on-year increase of 4.8%, setting a new historical record for the fourth consecutive year. China has maintained its position as Africa's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. The China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo has been successfully held for three sessions, with an 83% implementation rate of contracted projects, with brand influence continued expanding, and has become a shining hallmark of Hunan's opening-up.