Changsha buzzed with energy Thursday as the fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo kicked off alongside the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Changsha, Hunan Province, on the Chinese mainland.
Against this backdrop, the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi held bilateral talks with top African dignitaries including the Somali foreign minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali, the Mozambican foreign minister Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas and the Togolese foreign minister Robert Dussey. These meetings underlined a shared commitment to deepening economic and diplomatic ties between the Chinese mainland and Africa.
In discussions with Abdisalam Abdi Ali, Wang Yi highlighted the recent elevation of China-Somalia relations to a strategic partnership at last year’s FOCAC Beijing Summit. He stressed that China is ready to turn summit pledges into tangible projects, supporting Somalia’s peace-building, reconstruction and sustainable development.
Expressing gratitude, Abdisalam Abdi Ali thanked China for its steadfast backing during Somalia’s toughest challenges. He affirmed that China has a special place in the hearts of the Somali people and voiced Somalia’s eagerness to join China’s global initiatives, reinforcing a partnership driven by solidarity and shared goals.
As entrepreneurs and young global citizens watch these developments, the expo serves as a platform to explore new trade corridors, tech collaborations and cultural exchanges. For change-makers and digital nomads alike, the evolving China-Africa partnership offers fresh opportunities to shape a connected and sustainable future.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
