In recent years, Hubei and Africa have forged unbreakable fraternity, and embarked on a distinct path of cooperation in the journey toward development and revitalization.

In 1963, Hubei sent China's first medical team to Algeria, marking a prelude to the exchanges and cooperation between Hubei and African countries.

Over the years, cooperation between the two sides has extended from medical assistance to contract projects, agricultural cooperation, investment and trade.

Hubei-made construction projects

Five years ago, the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway connected the northeast African countries of Ethiopia and Djibouti, which greatly promoted the connectivity and economic development of the Horn of Africa.

Built and operated by Hubei-based China Railway 11th Bureau Group, the railway is Africa's first transnational electrified railway. So far, it has transported nearly 600,000 passengers and more than 7 million tonnes of cargo, and its transportation revenue has maintained an average annual growth rate of more than 35 percent.

The Mohammed VI Bridge in Morocco, known as the largest cable-stayed bridge in Africa, was designed and constructed by Hubei-based China Railway Major Bridge Reconnaissance Design Institute and China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group. It has shortened the travel time from more than one hour to 20 minutes. The China Railway Siyuan Survey and Design Group undertook the project of No.1 Highway in Congo, boosting the development along the highway.

Investment promotion programs

In 2013, the first overseas plant of Angel Yeast Co., Ltd was put into operation in Egypt. The plant has brought the most advanced yeast technology and intelligent equipment in the world. It has become Angel Yeast's subsidiary with the highest net profit for many years in a row.

In 2022, local enterprises in Hubei actually invested 84.28 million U.S. dollars in African countries, up 3.6 times year on year. By the end of December 2022, enterprises from Hubei had set up 52 investment projects in Africa, with an investment of 850 million U.S. dollars, covering the fields of agricultural development, medicine and building materials manufacturing.

Cooperation platform trailblazer

In 2022, Hubei approved the first batch of six provincial-level foreign economic and trade cooperation zones, three of which are located in Africa, providing important platforms to promote bilateral cooperation.

The Mozambique (Hubei) Lianfeng Agricultural Industry Zone is mainly engaged in rice and vegetable farming business, with an investment of 497,000 U.S. dollars in 2022, bolstering domestic imports and exports of 247,000 U.S. dollars. The Gambia (Hubei) Overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone covers the areas of agricultural production and trade logistics, with an investment of 783,000 U.S. dollars in 2022, promoting domestic imports and exports of 1.257 million U.S. dollars.

In 2022, Hubei's total foreign trade volume with Africa stood at 36.73 billion yuan, up 49.3 percent year on year.

Hubei strives to boost economic and trade cooperation with Africa, and contributes to the development of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future. (en.hubei.gov.cn by Zhang Yawei）