China’s First Import of Fresh Avocadoes from Africa Signals Closer China–Africa Trade (& Other?) Relations†

中国首次从非洲进口新鲜牛油果标志着更密切的中非贸易（及其他？）关系*

Digest | 文摘

The first batch of fresh avocados shipped to China from Kenya, Africa’s largest avocado exporter, just reached Shanghai.  The shipment has arrived amid the growing trade between China and Africa.  According to official data, China–Africa trade volume rose to USD 254 billion in 2021 (an increase of 35 percent year-on-year), with African exports reaching a record level of USD 106 billion.

This increase in trade volume between China and Africa is closely related to the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (the “FOCAC”), which was established in 2020.  In November 2021, at the opening ceremony of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC, President XI Jinping announced that China will work closely with African countries to jointly implement “nine programs”.  The programs focus on nine important areas, including health care, poverty reduction, and trade promotion.

What aspects of China–Africa relations, apart from trade relations, are expected to show significant progress in the near future?  Are there any challenges China and/or Africa will need to face as they turn towards expanding cooperation?

从非洲最大的牛油果出口国肯尼亚运往中国的第一批新鲜牛油果刚刚抵达上海。这批货物运抵之际，正值中非贸易日益增长之时。官方数据显示，2021年中非贸易额增至2540亿美元（同比增长35%），非洲出口达到创纪录的1060亿美元。

中非贸易额的增长与2020年成立的中非合作论坛密切相关。2021年11月，在中非合作论坛第八届部长级会议开幕式上，习近平主席宣布，中国将与非洲国家密切合作，共同实施“九项工程”。这些工程专注于卫生健康、减贫和贸易促进等九个重要领域。

除了贸易关系外，中非关系的哪些方面也有望在不久的将来取得重大进展？中国和/或非洲在扩大合作时是否需要面对一些挑战？

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^† This piece was contributed by David Wei Zhao and edited by SINOTALKS.COM.

^* 此文章由赵炜提供，并由丝络谈™编辑。