Officials brief reporters on the Eighth Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs, China-Africa economic and trade cooperation at a press meeting for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing on September 3, 2024. Photo: Yin Yeping/GT

Around 1,000 business representatives from China and African countries will come together and share opportunities in investment, trade and industries at the upcoming Eighth Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs, which will be held in Beijing on Friday, the latest reflection of stronger China-Africa economic and trade ties.

As an important component of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which runs from Wednesday to Friday, the Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs garners significant attention as a platform for the Chinese and African business communities to share experiences and foster cooperation, officials and experts said on Tuesday.

The scale of this year's Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs is expected to reach 1,000 participants, with "the number of registrations from both Chinese and African parties far exceeding our expectations," Zhang Shaogang, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), told a press briefing on Tuesday.

The Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs, organized jointly by the CCPIT and China's Ministry of Commerce, will be the highest-level economic and trade event within the FOCAC framework for the business communities of both sides, according to Zhang.

So far, representatives from 408 businesses and business associations across 48 African countries, including South Africa and Ethiopia, have registered for the conference. "This [active participation] demonstrates the strong interest and desire of the African business community to enhance economic and trade cooperation with China," Zhang said.

Participating companies span various industries, including traditional sectors such as energy and mining, infrastructure, and finance and trade, as well as emerging industries like electronics, telecommunications and biomedicine. There is a notable presence of small and medium-sized enterprises, the Global Times learned from the CCPIT.

In recent years, with the strategic guidance of leaders from both China and Africa, business communities in both China and Africa have promoted greater outcomes of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, officials and experts said.

"This conference provides a platform for the Chinese and African business communities to share their experiences and conduct cooperation… Entrepreneurs from both China and Africa can use this platform to strengthen communication synergy and unlock opportunities in investment, trade and industries," said Zhang.

Chinese companies bring advantages such as advanced technologies and management expertise, particularly in emerging sectors like green technology and digitalization, while Africa possesses valuable resources including low labor costs for development, Bai Ming, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times.