On May 23, Arkebe Oqubay Metiku, a visiting professor at Fudan University, Nigisti Gabreklis, an economics expert, Ayalu Mamo, an associate researcher at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, and Xu Xiangping, Former Counselor of the Hunan Provincial People's Government and President of the Research Institute, visited HCIG for discussions. Cai Dianwei, HCIG chairman, warmly received them. The two sides discussed and exchanged views on further promoting the in-depth and practical cooperation in China-Africa economic and trade and achieving win-win development. Chen Hao, Deputy General Manager of HCIG, hosted the symposium.

Arkebe Oqubay Metiku expressed his gratitude for HCIG’s warm reception and shared his long-standing close ties with China and his efforts for bilateral relations. He said that China-Africa cooperation had a solid foundation and a long history. As an important frontier of China-Africa exchanges and cooperation, HCIG actively participated in various business cooperation between China and Africa in economic and trade, especially in infrastructure construction. Many African countries have been able to improve their infrastructure, increase employment, optimize the market, and transform their economies, which deserved full recognition. Looking to the future, he said that there was great potential for China-Africa cooperation. He hoped that both sides would provide more opportunities in the fields of trade with Africa, new energy transformation, and economy, jointly expand development space, and further release the development potential of cooperation with China and Africa.

Xu Xiangping expressed his gratitude to HCIG for its long-term contribution as the executive vice president unit of the research institute. He mentioned that with the official approval of the “Overall Plan for the Construction of the China-Africa Economic and Trade In-depth Cooperation Pilot Zone,” the China-Africa Economic and Trade In-depth Cooperation Pilot Zone was ushering in unprecedented development opportunities. In the next step, the research institute would promote cross-border cooperation between think tanks, markets, and resources by leveraging multilateral forces, promote the integrated development of service providers, investors, operators, and suppliers, and form several replicable and popularize development models and typical experiences, so as to better provide strong support for enterprises to enter Africa in groups and work together to build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

Cai Dianwei warmly welcomed the visit of Arkebe Oqubay Metiku, Xu Xiangping and his delegation, and expressed his gratitude for the trust and support of the research institute. He also introduced the reform and development of HCIG and the development of international business. He said that the purpose of the “Belt and Road” Initiative was to build a community with a shared future for mankind, and to further increase cooperation with Africa to ensure that more people along the "Belt and Road" can benefit from it. He hoped that the two sides would establish a more convenient cooperation channel and work together to create new growth points and new development models. At the same time, we should strengthen the exploration of the potential for cooperation in theoretical research, technological innovation and industrial development, and effectively promote the development of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation relations in a high-quality and sustainable direction.

Before the meeting, Arkebe Oqubay Metiku, Xu Xiangping and their delegation also visited HCIG exhibition hall to gain an in-depth understanding of HCIG’s production and operation, project construction, brand honors and other aspects.

The African Foreign Delegation, the relevant personnel of the provincial China-Africa Economic and Trade Promotion Council, and the relevant person in charge of SHICO attended the meeting.