People visit the Changsha International Convention and Exhibition Center during the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, July 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

China-Africa trade has been boosted by simplified customs procedures and seamless process from direct sourcing in Africa to processing and sales in China.

by Xinhua writers Zhang Yirong, Zhang Yujie, Liu Fangzhou

CHANGSHA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- "In a mere 17 hours, flowers from Kenya can arrive in Changsha. Our business is growing," Huang Zinan, who is in the flower business, told Xinhua during the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo held here from Thursday to Sunday.

Huang, in charge of the Kenyan pavilion in the expo's permanent exhibition hall, emphasized the wide variety of flowers from Kenya, a leading flower exporter in Africa as the country is famous for its long blooming period.

Kenyan flowers can reach Chinese consumers faster thanks to the April introduction of additional flights between Changsha and Nairobi and streamlined customs clearance procedures.

Jing Jianhua, founder of "Own Master (Xiao Ka Zhu)," a coffee chain brand featuring African coffee beans in Changsha, told Xinhua that the company's direct communication with African coffee estate owners through an online trading platform was made possible by the expo and an African coffee trade center that opened at Changsha's Gaoqiao Grand Market in 2020. This innovative approach has simplified transactions and reduced costs.

An exhibitor presents Ethiopian coffee during the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo at the Changsha International Convention and Exhibition Center in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, June 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)

Jiang Shoufang, a manager of the Gaoqiao market, said that by establishing a seamless process from direct sourcing in Africa to processing and sales in China, the overall cost of the African coffee sold at Gaoqiao is approximately 30 percent lower than its equivalents. Last year, African coffee beans accounted for about 40 percent of the total coffee bean sales at the market.

As African quality goods have become increasingly common in China in recent years, "Made in China," exemplified by Hunan construction machinery, has also made its way into Africa and become a shining symbol for China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.

On June 1, an authorized economic operator (AEO) arrangement between China and Uganda was officially launched, allowing favorable treatment at the customs for eligible enterprises from the other side.

"As an AEO enterprise of China Customs, we will enjoy such benefits as priority inspection and fast customs clearance in Uganda Customs, which is a great advantage for our company to tap the African market and further expand our trade with Africa," said Zhao Weibo, head of customs affairs at Sany Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

"By collecting and disseminating the latest standards and regulations from both China and Africa, we help match Chinese and African enterprises and make their products suitable for each other's markets," Xu Xiaohua, executive director of the China-Africa Technical Measures to Trade Research and Evaluation Base in Changsha, told Xinhua.

Xu highlighted the platform's achievements, such as facilitating the entry of cashew nuts from Guinea-Bissau into China and supporting Chinese new energy enterprises to invest in North Africa.

An exhibitor arranges African seafood products at the China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Innovation Demonstration Park (Hunan Gaoqiao Grand Market) in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, July 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

Cai Dianwei, chairman of Hunan Construction Investment Group, told Xinhua at the expo that his group, in collaboration with multiple financial institutions, has embarked on an agricultural products processing plant project in Cote d'Ivoire, which is expected to boost the production, operation and trade of non-resources-based products.

"This model will greatly increase the added value of agricultural products exported by Cote d'Ivoire, drive its local employment, and promote its industrial development," Cai said.

(Xinhua reporters Yang Jun, Liu Youmin and Wang Songyu also contributed to this story.)