Reference News Network, September 10 report - According to data released by China on September 8, as of August this year, China has exported goods worth approximately $140.8 billion to Africa, and imported about $81.3 billion.

The report said that the growth in exports to Africa, as well as record sales in Southeast Asia and Latin America, highlight the resilience of Chinese manufacturers in seeking new markets for the products produced in their factories.

The report pointed out that for a long time, China has been Africa's largest trading partner. Due to the Sino-US trade war, the flow of Chinese goods has never been as important as it is now. In August, Chinese exports to the US continued to decline, while exports to Africa saw a significant increase.

The report said that the prosperity of China-Africa trade is evident on the streets of Kampala, the capital of Uganda.

In a bustling commercial area filled with electronics shops, almost every shop is stacked with solar panels, all of which have one thing in common: they are made in China.

A shopkeeper named Mwene Joseph said that over the past 10 years, Chinese solar panels have gradually replaced competitors from Europe and India. He estimated that nearly 99% of the solar panels currently on sale are made in China. At the end of the day, no one can match the price of Chinese products.

Not only solar panels, but almost everything in this crowded electronics shop, from light bulbs to generators, is made in China.

The report said that in recent years, as part of the "Belt and Road" initiative, China has heavily invested in infrastructure development across the African continent. These projects have deepened Beijing's influence in Africa and created business opportunities for Chinese companies.

This year, the Trump administration cut aid to Africa, causing a series of health and development programs to stall. It also imposed tariffs on many African countries. Trump initially threatened to impose a 50% tariff on goods imported from Lesotho, forcing this textile-dependent country to declare a state of emergency.

The report said that as the United States withdraws from Africa, China's role is becoming increasingly important. In June this year, Beijing announced that it would implement a 100% tariff-free measure for 100% of product categories for 53 African countries with which it has established diplomatic relations. China is sending the message that it is committed to building a productive and mutually beneficial relationship with Africa.

Chinese media said that in recent years, China has created more than 1 million jobs in Africa, and for the past 25 years, it has been helping the region build roads, railways, bridges, and ports.

The report said that the mutually beneficial cooperation depicted by Beijing is most evident in the solar energy sector. According to the energy tracking agency Ember, solar energy is "taking off" in Africa. It pointed out that in the past 12 months, the number of solar panels imported by Africa from China increased by 60%, during which time 20 African countries set record import levels.

In Uganda, many Chinese solar panel manufacturers have set up distribution offices in Kampala, allowing retailers to quickly obtain products.

Walter Kuku, general manager of a hydropower and solar installation company, said that Chinese solar companies are common in Uganda and are setting up branches across the African continent. He said that more than eight Chinese companies have distribution centers in Kampala.

The report said that this situation is not limited to the clean energy sector. The export growth of Chinese products meeting the industrial development needs of Africa is equally remarkable. In the consumer goods sector, the export growth of Chinese products to Africa is also impressive. (Translated by Lu Di)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7548266925432898048/

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