2026 China-Africa Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum: The total number of on-site project signings reached 40.96 billion yuan

China News Service, Yiwu, Zhejiang, November 7 (Dong Yixin) The 2026 China-Africa Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum was held in Yiwu, Jinhua, Zhejiang on the 7th. During the forum, 49 China-Africa cooperation projects were signed, including the Yiwu Market Kinshasa sub-market project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the 105MW photovoltaic project in Botswana, the China-Africa cross-border logistics supply chain ecological co-construction project, and the African mineral import project, with a total amount of 40.96 billion yuan (RMB, the same below).

It is reported that this year’s forum focuses on the main line of economic and trade, and for the first time the main venue is located in Yiwu, focusing on open platforms such as Yiwu International Trade City, Global Digital Trade Center, and Chinagoods Digital Platform. More than 400 guests from 39 countries and regions attended the forum.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, and is also the "Year of People-to-People Exchanges between China and Africa." On May 1, China fully implemented a zero-tariff policy with 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China, bringing important opportunities to improve the quality and expansion of trade between the two sides.

In recent years, Jinhua has continued to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Africa in various fields such as economy, trade, humanities, and education. Data show that Jinhua has established trade links with all African countries and regions, and its import and export in the first three quarters of this year increased by 35.3% year-on-year; about 30,000 Jinhua businessmen are active in the vast African continent; 2,675 foreign-invested enterprises from Africa have settled in Jinhua, ranking first in Zhejiang Province.

As one of the important supporting activities under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the China-Africa Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum has continued to improve its activities and expand its influence. It has become one of the important platforms for Zhejiang to serve the country’s overall diplomacy and promote the modernization of the global South. Since 2024, the China-Africa Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum has facilitated the signing of more than 100 cooperation projects with Africa, with a total value exceeding 120 billion yuan.