With economic and trade cooperation being an evergreen pillar that drives the China-Africa relationship, the China-Africa Equipment Manufacturing Industry Exhibition was held concurrently with the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Johannesburg Summit 2015. The exhibition offered visiting heads of state and business delegates an opportunity to see some of the latest technology in the fields of aviation, agriculture, communications, nuclear power and military hardware and rail-equipment.

Held in the cavernous basement of the Sandton Convention Center, the exhibition was opened on December 4 by Summit co-chairs South African President Jacob Zuma and Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with Zimbabwe President and African Union Chairman Robert Mugabe.

Passenger aircraft models on display at the China-Africa Equipment Manufacturing Industry Exhibition running as part of the FOCAC Johannesburg Summit 2015 (FRANCISCO LITTLE/BEIJING REVIEW AFRICA BUREAU)

The two exhibits which attracted the most attention from visiting African heads of state were the high-speed rail equipment by China Railway Corp. and the passenger aircraft of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd.

With the expected increase in the African market for railway locomotives and rolling stock, as well as passenger aircraft, as the continent gears up to increase and improve transport infrastructure, the two enterprises were optimistic about their products finding suitable buyers.

The exhibition, hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and organized by the Trade Development Bureau of MOFCOM, was a perfect fit for the Summit theme of "Africa-China Progressing Together; Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development."

(Reporting from South Africa )