Hangzhou, (TDI): The third Global Digital Trade Expo (GDTE) in Hangzhou, East China’s Zhejiang Province, is proving to be a promising platform for enhancing China-Africa digital trade cooperation, with officials and business leaders from African nations showing a keen interest in leveraging Chinese expertise to drive digital transformation and industrial advancement across the continent.
The annual event, running from Wednesday to Sunday, has attracted a diverse range of participants from around the world, showcasing the latest innovations in digital trade and technology, according to Global Times.
Hosted by China’s Ministry of Commerce and the Zhejiang provincial government, this year’s expo places a special emphasis on deepening digital trade ties between China and African nations.
Robinson Jean Louis, Ambassador of Madagascar to China, expressed optimism regarding potential partnerships that could emerge from the expo.
“Through this event, Madagascar can establish fruitful cooperation with China, particularly in the areas of digital trade and innovation,” he noted.
The envoy said that his country hopes to harness digital technologies to bolster its economic development.
Similarly, Tichaona Mashiri, Founder and CEO of DBI Intelligent Technology Group based in South Africa, highlighted the extensive opportunities for collaboration.
“We are here to explore partnerships in fields such as telecommunications and cybersecurity, where our business operates in South Africa,” Mashiri said.
“There is much we can learn from this event, and many technologies here can be adopted back home to benefit our business,” he added.
Robust Growth in China’s Digital Trade
China’s Ministry of Commerce reported a robust growth in the nation’s digital trade, which surged to 1.42 trillion yuan ($202 billion) in the first half of 2024, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 3.7 percent.
Cross-border e-commerce imports and exports also witnessed a significant rise, amounting to 1.22 trillion yuan, up by 10.5 percent during the same period.
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This growth has positioned China-Africa trade as a key driver within the digital economy sphere.
The Africa Pavilion at the expo featured a wide array of products including Ethiopian coffee, Kenyan tea, South African red wine, and Nigerian cashews, with representatives using cross-border e-commerce platforms and livestreaming to connect with Chinese consumers.
Xie Qi, Director of the Zhejiang-Africa Service Center, noted that digital platforms have provided African products with greater access to the expansive Chinese market.
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“We are using e-commerce livestreaming and other digital tools to promote Africa’s high-quality products in China more effectively. At the same time, we are assisting Chinese companies in expanding their presence in Africa’s digital market,” Xie explained.
As digitalization continues to reshape global trade, the complementary nature of China-Africa commerce stands to unlock new growth opportunities, Xie added.
The expo underscores the potential for digital cooperation between the two regions, promising to bolster economic ties and foster mutual development in the years to come.
