As the Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo gears up to open in Changsha, Hunan Province, from June 12 to 15, Hunan is taking center stage in China-Africa cooperation. Once seen as a landlocked inland province, Hunan is now a trailblazer in building new models of sustainable and diversified engagement with Africa.
To explore what makes Hunan uniquely attractive to African partners, China Africa Talk spoke with Zou Hongyan, Director of the Legal Center of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Research Society, and Khalifa Sy Diop, member of the Changsha People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Director of the Mali (Hunan-Changsha) Business Center.
A new model of cooperation
"Hunan is introducing a new model," said Khalifa Sy Diop.
"We're not just trading anymore. We're transferring technology, transferring industries, and building companies that can stay in Africa long term."
Unlike traditional hubs such as Guangzhou or Yiwu, which focus on goods trading, Hunan is promoting deep industrial cooperation and long-term investment. Initiatives such as the China-Africa Innovation Demonstration Park, industrial transfer zones, and the province's designation as a pioneering zone for in-depth China-Africa economic and trade cooperation reflect an integrated and policy-backed approach.
Driving trade and connectivity
Despite being inland, Hunan has built a multimodal logistics network linking Changsha to 11 major seaports through combined rail and river transport, ensuring that landlocked geography is no longer a barrier to global trade.
As Diop explained, river navigation, rail connections, and road networks allow seamless movement of goods from Changsha to Guangzhou and global seaports.
This logistics strength is making Hunan a platform for African traders and Chinese companies focused on Africa, helping streamline operations and reduce costs.
Zou Hongyan pointed out that, from 2021 to 2024, Hunan's trade with Africa has grown at an impressive 14.3% average annual rate, outpacing the national average by 5.3 percentage points.
Hunan is also home to China's first technical trade barrier review base for Africa, which is helping harmonize standards and smooth the way for African products entering China, especially in agri-foods.
Agriculture and food security
Known as the birthplace of hybrid rice, Hunan is leveraging its agricultural expertise to support Africa's food security. Hybrid rice technology, agricultural machinery, and training programs are now deployed in many African countries.
From 2025 to 2027, Hunan plans to dispatch 50 agricultural experts to Africa, train 5000 African agricultural technicians, promote mechanized farming and support entire agricultural value chains from seed to distribution.
Education and talent development
Hunan's universities are playing a vital role in fostering talent and cultural exchange. Many graduates are now contributing to fields such as agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, and diplomacy back home. New partnerships between Hunan universities and African counterparts are deepening industry-academia ties and creating community-level connections.
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