CHANGSHA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to provide new opportunities for Africa through Chinese modernization and high-quality development, and will make the pragmatic cooperation between the two sides deeper and more solid, Vice President Han Zheng said Thursday.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng addresses the opening ceremony of the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, June 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

Han made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, which is taking place in Changsha, the capital of central China's Hunan Province. The four-day event has attracted over 1,000 representatives from 68 countries and regions.

Over the past decade, no matter how the international situation has changed, China and Africa have always been friendly and united, and have become a community with a shared future and common interests, Han noted.

He said China firmly supports Africa in taking an independent development path, and will advance China-Africa cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, forging a closer China-Africa community with a shared future.

China-Africa cooperation plays an important leading role in South-South cooperation, as well as international cooperation with Africa, and has set a model for building a new type of international relations, he said.

He added that the expo is expected to be a good platform for the two sides to enhance exchanges and discuss cooperation. 

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng visits an exhibition hall of the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo prior to the opening ceremony of the event in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, June 29, 2023. Han addressed the opening ceremony of the expo on Thursday. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)