Senior officials and business leaders attending the China-Africa Entrepreneurs Summit have called for a deeper and more practical level of cooperation, emphasizing that sustained partnerships are essential to achieving shared economic growth and long-term development across both regions.
The inaugural summit took place at the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, bringing together high-level representatives from governments, diplomatic missions, and the private sector. The event marked a significant step toward strengthening institutional and commercial ties between China and Africa.
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Organized jointly by the Chinese Mission to the African Union, the AU Commission, and the China Chamber of Commerce to Africa, the gathering reflected a coordinated effort to expand economic collaboration and encourage direct engagement between entrepreneurs from both sides.
Held under the theme “Deepening Practical China-Africa Cooperation and Embarking on a New Journey for Development,” the summit focused on actionable strategies aimed at enhancing trade, investment, and innovation-driven growth in an evolving global economy.
In his address, Taye Atske Selassie highlighted the transformative role of the African Continental Free Trade Area, noting that Africa is increasingly positioning itself as a unified and competitive market where businesses can thrive and expand.
He stressed that Africa-China cooperation is built on mutual respect and shared interests, and called for a shift toward a more inclusive and multi-layered partnership in which entrepreneurs, innovators, and private enterprises play a leading role in driving economic transformation.
Participants at the summit urged businesses to take full advantage of existing opportunities, including zero-tariff policies, investment facilitation agreements, and structured economic dialogue platforms designed to ease trade and cross-border collaboration.
Li Qingyong, president of the China Chamber of Commerce to Africa, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting enterprises in building sustainable operations across the continent while fostering stronger local integration and community engagement.
He further encouraged companies to align their strategies with Africa’s industrialization and modernization goals, particularly by investing in high-growth sectors such as the digital economy, renewable energy, and environmentally sustainable development initiatives.
The summit concluded with the unveiling of the China-Africa Entrepreneurs Partnership Alliance, a new platform aimed at strengthening coordination and ensuring that commitments made during the meeting translate into concrete actions, measurable outcomes, and long-term economic impact.