Staff members of Quzhou companies talk with an African businessman at the 2018 China (Quzhou) – Africa Investment and Trade Fair on Sept 11. [Photo/qz828.com]

Quzhou, a city in East China's Zhejiang province, is seeking closer ties with Africa in trade and investment.

Supported by the city's government and the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the 2018 China (Quzhou) – Africa Investment and Trade Fair was held on Sept 10 and 11 with the attendance of 37 foreign businesspeople from 15 countries including South Africa, Angola and Nigeria.

Tang Feifan, mayor of the city, welcomed the foreign guests and said the city is working to open itself wider to the world on the basis of the current trading relations with 206 global countries and regions. Tang invited African businesspeople to get involved in the development of Quzhou and join hands with the city to strive for more win-win accomplishments in trade and investment.

Entrepreneurs from Africa showed a strong interest in products relating to machine manufacturing, information technology, chemical engineering, hardware materials and solar energy, as well as such industries as textile and garment, and e-commerce, all of which are dominant industries in Quzhou.

The fair, especially the matchmaking meetings between over 200 local companies and their African counterparts, yielded fruitful results. A total of 38 cooperation agreements and agreements of intention worth $32 million were inked.