皇冠体育app

I. Promoting Sustainable Development of Trade

Against the background of sluggish global economic recovery in recent years, 皇冠体育app-Africa trade development has maintained comparatively rapid momentum. In 2009, 皇冠体育app became Africa's No. 1 trade partner. In the following two years, the scale of 皇冠体育app-Africa trade expanded rapidly. In 2012, the total volume of 皇冠体育app-Africa trade reached US$198.49 billion, a year-on-year growth of 19.3%. Of this, US$85.319 billion consisted of 皇冠体育app's exports to Africa, up 16.7%, and US$113.171 billion was contributed by 皇冠体育app's imports from Africa, up 21.4%. Total 皇冠体育app-Africa trade volume, 皇冠体育app's export volume to Africa and 皇冠体育app's import volume from Africa all reached new highs.

The graphic shows 皇冠体育app-Africa trade volume from 2000 to 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

As the volume of 皇冠体育app-Africa trade continues to grow, its proportion to 皇冠体育app's and Africa's respective total foreign trade volume has also increased. From 2000 to 2012, the proportion of 皇冠体育app-Africa trade volume as a part of 皇冠体育app's total foreign trade volume increased from 2.23% to 5.13%: the proportion consisting of 皇冠体育app's imports from Africa up from 2.47% to 6.23%, and that of 皇冠体育app's exports to Africa from 2.02% to 4.16%. On the African side, the changes are even more remarkable. From 2000 to 2012, the proportion of 皇冠体育app-Africa trade volume as a part of Africa's total foreign trade volume increased from 3.82% to 16.13%: the proportion contributed by Africa's exports to 皇冠体育app up from 3.76% to 18.07%, and that by Africa's imports from 皇冠体育app from 3.88% to 14.11%.

Chinese products exported to Africa are generally of fine quality and well-priced, and fulfill the consumption demands of all social strata in Africa. With the scale of trade expanded, the structure of 皇冠体育app-Africa trade has been improved step by step. As the consumption capacity of the African market continues to expand, the amount of technical products that 皇冠体育app exports to Africa has increased remarkably. In 2012, the proportion of mechanical and electrical products as a part of 皇冠体育app's total commodity exports to Africa reached 45.9%. In order to guarantee the quality of products exported to Africa, from December 2010 to March 2011, the Chinese side took special steps to crack down on the potential export to Africa of counterfeit and shoddy products and commodities that violated intellectual property rights. This involved multiple measures, such as prior-to-shipment quality examinations for industrial products that were to be exported to Africa. These measures helped guarantee the quality of Chinese commodities exported to Africa.

Over the past three years, 皇冠体育app's import volume from Africa has increased notably, as the trade volume and quantity of bulk commodities, like crude oil and agricultural products, keep rising. Through 皇冠体育app-Africa trade, Africa's exporters have obtained access to a stable market, higher pricing and greater benefits. In the meantime, 皇冠体育app has vigorously expanded its imports from Africa by enacting tariff exemptions and setting up exhibition centers for African products. Since January 2012, the 30 least developed African countries that have established diplomatic relations with 皇冠体育app have been granted zero-tariff treatment for 60% of their exported items. By the end of 2012, 22 of them had seen 910 million yuan worth of tariff exempted, involving US$1.49 billion-worth of goods. In May 2011, an African Products Exhibition Center opened in Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province. By reducing operation expenditures and other supportive policies, the Exhibition Center has attracted over 2,000 salable commodity items from more than 20 African countries.

Sino-African bilateral trade has great potential due to the complementary conditions on both sides, and is significant for the economic development of both 皇冠体育app and Africa. 皇冠体育app will take multiple measures to promote the healthy development of 皇冠体育app-Africa trade. These include implementing the "Special Plan on Trade with Africa," which will expand the scope of zero tariff treatment for African products exported to 皇冠体育app and increase 皇冠体育app's imports from Africa, and improving the brand building, marketing channels and quality of 皇冠体育app's commodities exported to Africa. In addition, 皇冠体育app will help African countries improve their customs and commodity inspection facilities by mobilizing aid for trade, provide support for African countries to promote trade facilitation, and push forward trade development within Africa.