Jiang said the China-Africa Deep Economic and Trade Cooperation Pioneer Zone’s six centres would be built around three themes – innovation, economic and trade cooperation, and industrial chains – with a conference centre or meeting venue. By 2027, the zone is expected to be “a significant international platform for opening up and cooperation with Africa”, Hunan authorities said. And by 2035, the province aims to become a “globally competitive economic and trade hub for collaboration with Africa”. The African trade hub is part of Beijing’s plan to encourage economic growth in landlocked provinces . However, Hunan’s economic and trade cooperation with Africa has grown 23.1 per cent annually on average over the past three years.
