Huang Youyi, CPPCC National Committee Member and CIPG Vice President, explains China's economy, foreign investment and commercial policies in Africa at the ChinAfrica Exchange Forum on February 21 in Johannesburg, South Africa

China has been Africa's top trading partner for the past three years, and Chinese companies operating in Africa are now committing to hiring more local staff, integrating with local cultures and being aware of their social responsibilities.

All of this was discussed at the ChinAfrica Exchange Forum held on February 21 in Johannesburg, South Africa, where Huang Youyi, Member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, was the keynote speaker. Huang spoke about the current state and development trends of China's economy and its policies for investment and trade with regard to Africa at the forum, which was attended by local business executives and academics.

As the world's second largest economy, the biggest problem now facing China is not the speed of its development but ensuring the quality and efficiency of its growth, Huang said. He observed that the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China's ruling party, has responded by making changes to the nation's growth model a primary strategy for the country's overall development in coming years.

Discussing bilateral relations in an interview with Summit TV, which is based in Johannesburg (http://www.summit.co.za/current-show/face2face/20130221.html#4), Huang said he is optimistic that China's new leadership will keep old policies and advance relations with African countries, particularly in cultural and commercial fields. He also noted that the trade balance between China and Africa has favored the African continent in recent years, and that China is diversifying its imports from Africa to include goods apart from natural resources, with South African wine being a prime example. There is also room to expand trade relations in other areas, such as tourism, Huang said. The number of Chinese tourists to South Africa has been increasing, and Huang voiced the expectation that more Chinese visitors will make the trek to the African nation this year, particularly because of the BRICS Summit meeting that will be hosted by South Africa in late March.

Huang Youyi presents Martyn Davies, CEO of Frontier Advisory, with a calligraphy scroll. Mr. Davies chaired the ChinAfrica Exchange Forum discussion on February 21

The successful and well-attended ChinAfrica Exchange Forum was hosted by ChinAfrica Media and Publishing in partnership with Frontier Advisory, a local consulting company that assists clients in improving their competitiveness in emerging market economies.

ChinAfrica Media and Publishing is the African Branch of Beijing Review, a media outlet under China International Publishing Group. Besides its flagship weekly periodical, Beijing Review, the media outlet also publishes a monthly magazine, ChinAfrica. Huang, who is also Vice President and Editor in Chief of CIPG, said ChinAfrica is playing a leading role in promoting the understanding of Sino-African relations and cooperation.

(Francisco Little is Africa Managing Editor of ChinAfrica Media and Publishing in Johannesburg)