Somalia’s Trade Minister and Ambassador to China Attend Major Economic Forum; Djibouti Prime Minister Delivers Address as 39 Countries and Regions Participate
YIWU, China (HornPost) – Senior Chinese and African leaders, government officials, diplomats and business representatives have gathered in Yiwu, eastern China, for the 2026 China–Africa Economic, Trade and Cultural Cooperation Forum, highlighting growing economic and diplomatic engagement between China and African countries, including nations in the Horn of Africa.
The forum, held on November 7 in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, brought together more than 400 participants from 39 countries and regions to discuss opportunities for expanding bilateral trade, investment, industrial cooperation and cultural exchanges.
Among the senior Chinese officials attending was H.E. Ding Zhongli, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, who addressed the gathering and highlighted the importance of strengthening China–Africa relations.
Horn of Africa Countries Take Part
Countries from the Horn of Africa were represented through high-level government participation and diplomatic engagement.
Somalia was represented by its Minister of Trade and Industry, Jamaal, who attended the forum. Somalia’s Ambassador to China, Wang Dan, also participated and delivered a keynote address, highlighting opportunities to connect Africa’s natural resources with Chinese technology and industrial expertise.
Djibouti was represented through Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, who delivered remarks to the forum by video. He highlighted the importance of China–Africa partnerships and the potential for deeper economic and commercial cooperation.
Ethiopia was also represented in the wider discussions surrounding the 15th China–Africa Think Tanks Forum, held alongside the main event. Ethiopian policy expert Balew Demissie participated in discussions on Africa’s development priorities, research cooperation and modernisation.
The participation of these Horn of Africa countries reflects the region’s growing engagement with China at a time when trade, infrastructure development, logistics and investment are increasingly important to regional economic strategies.
$6.14 Billion in China–Africa Cooperation Projects
One of the major outcomes of the forum was the signing of 49 China–Africa cooperation projects valued at approximately 40.96 billion yuan, equivalent to around $6.14 billion.
The agreements cover several sectors, including international trade, overseas investment, engineering contracts and cross-border logistics.
Among the projects announced were the establishment of a Yiwu Market branch in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, a 105-megawatt solar power project in Botswana and a China–Africa cross-border logistics supply chain initiative.
The agreements are intended to strengthen commercial connections, facilitate investment and improve supply chain cooperation between China and African markets.
Africa–China Trade and Investment Opportunities
The forum also showcased Yiwu’s position as one of China’s major international trading centres, connecting manufacturers, exporters and African businesses.
A parallel China–Africa Trade Commodity Exhibition brought together 186 companies from 15 countries, displaying African products and Chinese manufactured goods.
Participating African countries included Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana and South Africa, alongside businesses representing several other African markets.
The discussions also covered agricultural cooperation, renewable energy, industrial development, digital trade and cultural exchanges.
The 15th China–Africa Think Tanks Forum, held concurrently, brought together researchers and policy experts to discuss cooperation on modernisation, economic development and knowledge exchange.
The gathering comes as China and African countries seek to expand economic relations beyond traditional trade and strengthen cooperation in manufacturing, infrastructure, technology and investment.
For the Horn of Africa, participation by Somalia, Djibouti and Ethiopia provides an opportunity to strengthen engagement with Chinese institutions and businesses, particularly in trade, logistics, infrastructure and regional economic development.
HornPost Staff Reporter
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