Core Points - The fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo will be held from June 12 to 15 in Changsha, Hunan, focusing on deepening economic cooperation between China and Africa [1] Trade and Investment - In 2024, the trade volume between China and Africa is projected to reach $295.6 billion, marking a year-on-year increase of 4.8%, achieving a historical high for the fourth consecutive year [2] - China has maintained its position as Africa's largest trading partner for 16 years, with imports from Africa amounting to $116.8 billion (up 6.9%) and exports to Africa reaching $178.8 billion (up 3.5%) [2] - Over the past five years, Chinese direct investment in Africa has averaged over $3 billion annually, with private enterprises accounting for over 70% of the investment projects [3] - In March 2023, imports from the least developed African countries reached $21.42 billion, a 15.2% increase year-on-year, with coffee and cocoa imports rising by 70.4% and 56.8% respectively [3] Expo Features - The expo will feature 128 proposed projects for signing and matching, with a total value exceeding $7 billion [5] - The main exhibition area will cover 100,000 square meters, showcasing various themed exhibitions such as the China-Africa Cooperation Brand Exhibition and the Africa Good Goods Exhibition [4] - More than 12,000 participants, including representatives from 44 African countries and over 2,800 enterprises, have registered for the event [4] Cooperation Initiatives - The establishment of a China-Africa Economic and Trade Deep Cooperation Pilot Zone has received approval, with significant progress reported in various areas [6] - A service fund for China-Africa economic and trade cooperation has been set up, along with a pre-assessment system for African food exports to China [7] - The "Africa Brand Warehouse" project has been initiated, with over 120 African brand products entering the Chinese market [7]