A Shared Future: Investment forum encourages in-depth exchanges

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02:23

The fourth annual Investing in Africa Forum has kicked off in central China's Hunan Province. The two-day business event follows the Forum on China Africa Cooperation and sets its eyes on concrete cooperation between China and African countries. Reporter Zheng Yibing has more from the city of Changsha.

Keeping the spirit of cooperation from FOCAC, the Investing In Africa Forum seeks to promote business opportunities between China and Africa.

HAO MINGJIN, VICE CHAIRPERSON STANDING COMMITTEE OF CHINA'S NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS "Together, we shall advance China-Africa cooperation towards our common strategic goals, and suit our mutual benefits."

African participants are seeking more such involvement from Chinese public and private investors, based on mutual benefits.

DENIS SASSOU NGUESSO PRESIDENT, REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO "Investment in Africa is the key to the development of the continent. We need initiatives and action. These are the basics of the development."

The two-day forum not only features in-depth exchanges, but is also aimed at sealing concrete deals.

In just the first day, 16 initial investment documents worth over 1.37 billion US dollars were signed. They cover agriculture, industry, and cultural and medical cooperation.

Expectations are high following FOCAC in Beijing, which pledged a commitment for strengthened cooperation in the next three years and beyond.

ABOUBAKER OMAR HADI, CHAIRMAN DJIBOUTI PORTS & FREE ZONES AUTHORITY "In our country, all cooperation projects are ready for investment from China. We are planning to open more ports and more free trade zones."

RENE AWAMBENG AFRICAN EXPORT-IMPORT BANK "Africa has 54 countries, and a continental population of over 1.2 billion. Each nation has different needs for infrastructure, health and education, which will contribute to the well being of the people. And we welcome them all."

ZHENG YIBING CHANGSHA, HUNAN PROVINCE "The next such Forum will be held in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2019. Participants say they will try to create more favorable conditions by then for concrete and mutually beneficial investment between China and Africa. Zheng Yibing, CGTN, Changsha in Hunan province."