ADDIS ABABA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Officials from China and the African Union (AU) have emphasized the significance of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, in connecting African businesses with global buyers, investors, technology partners, and new commercial opportunities.
The remarks were made at a conference held on Tuesday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, to promote the 140th Canton Fair.
Speaking at the event, Jiang Feng, head of the Chinese Mission to the AU, said the Canton Fair serves as a key platform for promoting economic and trade exchanges between China and Africa.
"Through the Canton Fair and measures such as streamlining customs procedures and enhancing trade facilitation, China is helping high-quality African products enter the Chinese market, supporting Africa's industrialization and advancing the implementation of the AU Agenda 2063," Jiang said.
Recalling that the 139th Canton Fair attracted over 22,000 enterprises and a total of 314,000 overseas buyers from 220 countries and regions, Jiang noted that this year's Canton Fair is expected to help more African businesses explore the global market.
Ron Osman Omar, director for industry, minerals, entrepreneurship, and tourism at the AU Commission, said the Canton Fair provides a valuable platform to strengthen business connections, and expand cooperation between African and Chinese enterprises.
Highlighting that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises account for approximately 90 percent of the businesses across Africa, Omar emphasized the importance of linking African businesses to the global market to help them grow and become competitive at a global level.
"African enterprises require stronger connections, finance, technology, investment, skills, and international markets to grow and maximize their potential. Hence, platforms such as the Canton Fair are very crucial to help them connect to global buyers, investors and technology partners," she said.
Liu Xiaoguang, minister counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, said beyond commodity trade, the Canton Fair offers localized production solutions, investment packages, and technical training to empower Africa's industrialization drive.
"The fair responds to Africa's development priorities and advances industrial connectivity with Africa, by bringing together China's most competitive manufacturers and other professionals from over 200 countries," Liu said.
The 140th Canton Fair is set to be held from Oct. 23 to 27 this year at the Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. ■