By Wu Siya

WUHAN, Nov. 21 (China Economic Net) – On November 20, the 2025 China-Africa Innovation Cooperation and Development Forum, co-hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Hubei Provincial People's Government, opened in Wuhan, central China.

During the forum, a total of 12 events will be held, such as a two-way promotion meeting for industrial cooperation projects between China and African countries, a China-Africa science and technology cooperation think tank forum, and a forum on the development of oilseed science and technology innovation and industrial cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Approximately 800 guests, including government officials, diplomats, and foreign guests from 43 countries and regions in China, Africa, the Americas, and Europe, as well as renowned Chinese and African scientists and industry experts, participated in the forum.

The 2025 China-Africa Innovation Cooperation and Development Forum

The main forum released three reports, namely African Food-Water Resources-Environmental Protection and Development Scientific Action Plan (2026-2030), Chinese Agricultural Science and Technology Poverty Reduction Experience Cases and International Cooperation (English Ver.), as well as African Industrialization Blue Book (2024) - New Energy Industry.

In addition, this forum organized bilateral projects such as the China-Tanzania Joint Laboratory for Disease Prevention and Public Health, the China-Egypt Joint Laboratory for the Discovery and Utilization of Natural Active Peptide Resources, and sesame breeding and industrialization development, with a total of 39 cooperation agreements were signed.

African guests visit agricultural technology center in Wuhan [Photo provided to CEN]

At the 4th China-Africa Forum on Industrial Innovation and Technology Transfer Cooperation, both sides discussed for the first time the order-based joint talent training model, directly addressing the talent needs of Chinese-funded enterprises operating in Africa and the African Free Trade Zone. Hubei University of Technology subsequently signed eight strategic cooperation memorandums and agreements on scientific and technological cooperation and talent development, including the establishment of joint laboratories, with organizations such as the Association of African Universities and Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique.

In recent years, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Africa has developed rapidly, with China maintaining its position as Africa's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. Data shows that in the first three quarters of 2025, China's exports to Africa increased by 29.5% compared to the same period last year. Hubei Province's trade with Africa exceeded 50 billion yuan last year, and in the first seven months of this year, its trade volume with Africa surpassed 30 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 42.5%. The China-Africa Innovation Cooperation Center, spearheaded by Hubei, has already established six branches in Africa and organized 112 Chinese and African institutions to join its technology transfer collaboration network.