The 2015 Africa-China Commodities, Technology and Services Expo and Chongqing Export Commodities Expo was launched on Thursday in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa. The three-day Expo from 12 to 14 Nov. is also coincided with The China-Ethiopia Industry and Commerce Cooperation Forum with aim of enhancing business cooperation among China, Ethiopia, and other African nations.
More than 100 well-known enterprises and brands from dozen of municipalities and provinces of China are participating in the Expo, which is said to promote exchanges and cooperation between businesses from China, Ethiopia, and other African nations and also sound development of bilateral and multilateral business relations.
Speaking at the opening of the Expo, Qian Keming, China's Vice Minister of Commerce, noted that the Expo would contribute to enhancing the overall cooperation and in the industrialization partnership between China and Africa.
"During the China-Ethiopia Industrial and Commerce Cooperation Forum, the two business communities can discuss ways and channels for pragmatic cooperation and implement the important consensuses of the two leaders on enhancing the comprehensive cooperative partnership," stated the Vice Minister.
Stating that China is advancing its cooperation with Africa in various areas, the Vice Minister said his country would continue to facilitate in expediting industrialization in Africa and take the China-Africa cooperation to higher level.
"I believe this (The Expo) is significant to overall cooperation between China and Africa to upgrade industrialization and partnership between China and Africa," noted Qian. He also stated that China is taking measures to address activities that tarnish the image and reputation of "Made in China" in overseas markets and to enable good standard and quality products to different overseas markets including in Africa.
In his remarks, Sufian Ahmed, Advisor Minister to the Ethiopian Prime Minister, reiterated that China has cooperation with Ethiopia in development of infrastructure, railway, the energy sector, the water, which has highly contributed to the economic growth in Ethiopia.
Stating that Ethiopia has a lot to draw from China's experience, Sufian said the Expo would play crucial role in promoting business cooperation and technology transfer. "The Expo will further strengthen the industrial cooperation between the two countries.
It will also pave the ground for technology transfer," said the Advisor Minister. La Yifan, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, hailed the Expo's contribution to increasing trade between Ethiopia and China. He said the Expo takes place at a critical juncture as Ethiopia has just launched implementation of the second growth and transformation plan (GTP), to which the Ambassador said the Expo has contribution.
The Expo will be an opportunity for the Chinese and Ethiopians to know each other more, noted the Ambassador. Stating that the trade volume between China and Africa is increasing, Fatima Haram Acyl, AU Commissioner for Trade and Industry, said China has contributed to the robust economic growth of Africa by investing on the continent in the areas including, mining, transport, health and education, and ICT (information and communication technology) among others.
The Commissioner also hailed China's support to Africa during testing times such as to the efforts to address the Ebola outbreak in some African countries. She has called for more Chinese investment in Africa.
The Expo displays a range of Chinese commodities and services such as machineries of agriculture, leather processing, food processing and packaging, engineering as well as automobiles, hardware and construction materials, light industry consumption goods.
It also shows home appliances and consumer electronics as well as products from the fields of electric power, rail transportation, petrochemicals, metallurgy and mining, construction materials, civil engineering and equipment technology and others.
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