Jinhua, a city in China's Zhejiang Province, is emerging as a leading hub for cooperation with Africa, driven by growing trade, sustained educational partnerships, and closer cultural ties. The city's trade with Africa has expanded significantly, with total trade reaching 161.41 billion yuan from January to September, up 35.3% from a year earlier. This growth reflects the mutual benefits that have long underpinned China-Africa cooperation.
Jinhua's trade and economic ties with Africa continue to strengthen, with exports rising 29.6% to 144.51 billion yuan, the highest value of any Chinese city and 10.3% of China's total exports to Africa. The city is capitalizing on the global transition to green energy, with a growing competitive edge in lithium batteries, photovoltaic products, and electric passenger vehicles. These products are in high demand in African markets, driven by the need for sustainable energy solutions.
Companies in Jinhua, such as Zhejiang Jujiang New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., are playing a key role in driving cooperation with Africa in the green energy sector. The company's energy storage products, designed to address limited grid coverage, frequent outages, and the high cost of diesel power generation, have been well received in Africa. Lin Wancheng, director of the company's international sales and marketing center, noted that Africa is one of the world's fastest-growing green energy markets.
The import cost of copper and other raw metals has fallen significantly since May 1, 2026, when China extended zero-tariff treatment to all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations. This move has boosted trade between Jinhua and Africa, with the Jinyi Comprehensive Bonded Zone importing 2.81 billion yuan worth of goods from Africa, up 253.4% year over year. The city's pilot free trade zone, comprehensive bonded zone, specialized markets, and logistics hubs are supporting the growth of trade.
Industrial cooperation between China and Africa is evolving, with Jinhua companies taking a more active role in Africa's industrialization. Jiang Zhenlei, president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Jinhua Sub-Council, noted that economic and trade cooperation between Jinhua and Africa continues to deepen, expanding from an initial focus on trade in goods into green industries, digital economy, agricultural technology, and industrial park development.
Agricultural technology from Jinhua is opening up new possibilities for farming in Africa, with the city expanding international cooperation through the China-Africa (Jinhua) Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Park and the China-Mozambique "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory on Smart Agriculture. These efforts include supplying machinery suited to local conditions, sharing standardized crop-growing techniques, and offering regular agricultural training to develop a cohort of 100 African agricultural specialists.
Jinhua and Africa are also strengthening cooperation in education and culture, with local institutions providing opportunities to more than 15,000 students from over 50 African countries and regions. The city is home to 2,675 African-invested enterprises, the most of any city in Zhejiang, and has organized more than 60 China-Africa cultural exchange and cooperation events, reaching over 40 African countries and more than 100 million people across the continent.
Key points
- Jinhua's growing trade with Africa reached 161.41 billion yuan from January to September, up 35.3% from a year earlier.
- The city is home to 2,675 African-invested enterprises, the most of any city in Zhejiang.
- Local institutions have provided opportunities to more than 15,000 students from over 50 African countries and regions.
