Release time：2014-02-27 | Views：1340
Vice president Ma Xihua, our Group leader, attended the China-Eastern African Countries Economy and Trade Salon held by the China-Africa Countries Trade Promotion Association on November 27, 2013 in Beijing. The Eastern African countries are located in Eastern Africa with Eritrea in the north, Ruvuma River in the south, Indian Ocean in the east and Lake Tanganyika in the west, including a total of 10 countries: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Seychelles, a western Indian Ocean island nation. The total area is 3.7 million square kilometers, accounting for 12% in Africa. It has a population of over 20% of the total population in Africa. It is not only the birthplace of human civilization, but also has the world-famous Great Rift Valley, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Mount Nyiragongo, Lake Tanganyika and other magnificent landscape. Meanwhile, the oil reserves are very rich.
There are abundant opportunities for cooperation in economy and trade for China and Eastern African countries with a promising future, among which, the future focuses are expected to be agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure areas. The Eastern African countries attach great importance to industrialization in their national development strategies. Manufacturing is the focus of all governments, specifically including processing industry for agricultural products, textile industry and oil and gas refinery industry. Due to the fact that the Eastern African countries boast rich agricultural resources and labor forces, the processing industry for agricultural products and textile industry are particularly encouraged by the governments. Currently, the governments of Eastern African countries encourage the development of manufacturing. Since China is a big manufacturing country, it promises vast space for economic and trade cooperation. Chinese companies can invest in textile industry, automotive industry and processing industry for agricultural products based on the local needs to help improve the level of industrialized of Eastern African countries.
Tanzania Ambassador Abdulrahman A. Shimbo delivered a speech on behalf of the Eastern African countries on the Salon. He mentioned, "China and Africa enjoy traditional friendship. We were honored to see President Xi Jinping chose to visit Africa as his first destination after his election and had a short stay in Tanzania. The visit of President Xi Jinping was of great significance, giving new connotation for the development of relationship between China and Africa in various fields and bringing positive influences. His visit received intensive response in all countries in Africa including the Eastern African countries, affirming the confidence and determination to continue to deepen China-Africa cooperation. Currently, the Eastern African countries are politically stable and open which create the good environment to invest in Eastern African countries for Chinese entrepreneurs. There is huge cooperation potential for Chinese enterprises in the areas of agriculture, energy, construction and infrastructure in Eastern African countries. I hope this Salon will serve to such end for Chinese enterprises in various fields in Eastern African countries. I wish this Salon will be a complete success." In the Salon, our Group leaders made direct contact and communication with foreign diplomats. They were able to introduce the basic situation of our Group, especially the development in the African market. In the meanwhile, they obtained information about the economy and trade in Eastern African countries through the diplomats in hopes that new opportunities for development could be found.
