Currently, the number of Chinese enterprises investing in Africa exceeds 2,000, with government, private and individual investment constituting a mutually complementary structure. Chen Deming, Minister of Commerce of China, said on many occasions that China encourages enterprises to invest overseas. He believes "going global" should be a rational choice and strategic arrangement for Chinese enterprises to expand cooperation and investment areas.

 In recent years, China's technology has become increasingly popular among many African countries attracting foreign investment. For example, many Chinese enterprises such as ZTE and Huawei, China's leading providers of telecommunications equipment and solution, have set up factories in South Africa, and established their African headquarters there.

 "We look forward to Chinese enterprises' investments in South Africa," said Yunus Hoosen, Chief Director of Investment Promotion Division of South African Department of Trade and Industry in an interview with China Economic Weekly. "Apart from our traditional fields of cooperation, such as agriculture and mining industry, we also look forward to Chinese investment in the fields of electrical and electronics industry, bio-fuels, and renewable energy."

Local cooperation

Cooperation between Suzhou and African cities indicates that China-Africa cooperation and exchanges at the local level are becoming an important avenue for bilateral cooperation, marked by the opening of the Second China-Africa People's Forum in Suzhou in June 2012.

Li Liqing, Executive Vice President of China NGO Network for International Exchanges, said Suzhou was selected to hold the forum because apart from close bilateral cooperation between Suzhou and Africa in trade, health care, education, and environmental protection sectors, Suzhou is a model of urban development and economic progress in China.

"The forum greatly pushes forward the Sino-African local-level cooperation, which will enable the people [from both sides] to better make their own efforts to boost economic, social and cultural developments," said Joaquim Alberto Chissano, former President of Mozambique at the forum. More than 300 representatives from Chinese and African non-government organizations, along with officials from the United Nations and the African Union attended the two-day event.

In addition, other Chinese cities are initiating different forms of cooperation and exchanges with African countries. Last year, Shenzhen-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation and Exchanges Seminar was held in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, focusing on LED lighting industry and energy saving. Heilongjiang-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference became one the most important items on the agenda of the 23rd China Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair in June 2012.

 The first Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation, co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA), was held on August 27-28 in Beijing.

 "China and Africa share the aspiration that a comprehensive platform be built to further promote practical cooperation between the local governments and enhance their exchanges and cooperation to a new level with new achievements," Feng Zuoku, Vice President of the CPAFFC, told ChinAfrica.

 The forum manifested as an NGO in order to position itself as a bridge between the government and the people, he added.

 Xu Kaiyu, Vice President of Wenzhou Enterprises Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, a gathering of enterprisers from Wenzhou, a coastal city in Zhejiang Province, agreed.

He explained that Chinese private enterprises remain weak in Africa, which requires an established communication platform to encourage those enterprises going global. "The Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation will become an important channel for Chinese private enterprises [going global]," said Xu.

 The Forum will be a regular event held every two years.