STORY: What impresses African journalists at China-Africa trade expo?
DATELINE: June 30, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:47
LOCATION: CHANGSHA, China
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1.STANDUP 1 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
2.SOUNDBITE 1 (English): PAHEJA SIRIRIKA, Journalist at New Era, Namibia
3.SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MONSEDE JOSUE FORTUNE MEHOUENOU, Journalist at La Nation, Benin
4.SOUNDBITE 3 (English): SELIMA HENOKA, Journalist at Namibia Broadcasting Corporation
5. various of 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo
6. STANDUP 2 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
7. various of 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo
8. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): PAHEJA SIRIRIKA, Journalist at New Era, Namibia
9. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): MONSEDE JOSUE FORTUNE MEHOUENOU, Journalist at La Nation, Benin
10. SOUNDBITE 6 (English): SELIMA HENOKA, Journalist at Namibia Broadcasting Corporation
11. various of 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo
12. SOUNDBITE 7(English): SELIMA HENOKA, Journalist at Namibia Broadcasting Corporation
13. various of 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo

STORYLINE:

STANDUP 1 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
"The China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) is underway in China's Changsha. As a major platform for cooperation between China and Africa, the expo has grabbed extensive media attention from the two sides. At the exhibition venue, we've talked to some African journalists who are here covering the event."

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): PAHEJA SIRIRIKA, Journalist at New Era, Namibia
"I am a radio presenter and a newspaper journalist from Namibia."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MONSEDE JOSUE FORTUNE MEHOUENOU, Journalist at La Nation, Benin
"I come from Benin. I'm a journalist, for the national daily of my country, La Nation."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): SELIMA HENOKA, Journalist at Namibia Broadcasting Corporation
"Well, it's my first time being at the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo. I should say that I was really impressed with the whole setup that is around the expo."

STANDUP 2 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
"It is the third time this expo takes place in Hunan, one of the most active provinces in economic and trade ties with Africa and a trailblazer in China-Africa cooperation."

Themed "Common Development for a Shared Future," the four-day event which kicked off on Thursday aims to welcome more "Made in Africa" products into China and boost business links between the two sides.

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): PAHEJA SIRIRIKA, Journalist at New Era, Namibia
"We are on a tour in China to learn about China's development. We are learning about infrastructure, agriculture, and so many other sectors. In terms of opportunities, this is a niche. This is something that the cooperation exists between China and African countries, especially in Namibia, in the construction industry. China is very advanced when it comes to technology. China is very advanced when it comes to machinery. So we are very much in cooperation regarding the usage of Chinese equipment when it comes to infrastructure."

SOUNDBITE 5 (English): MONSEDE JOSUE FORTUNE MEHOUENOU, Journalist at La Nation, Benin
"And coming here can permit these people to know what Chinese people do, what Chinese people can produce in the country and how they can collaborate together, what kind of cooperation they can have."

SOUNDBITE 6 (English): SELIMA HENOKA, Journalist at Namibia Broadcasting Corporation
"Just attending the expo today is a win-win cooperation. Africa has so many resources to offer. China has so much advancement in technology. How can China's experts help Africa to develop African infrastructure? In Africa, in my country, in Namibia, we have a Chinese company that is busy developing road infrastructure. I should also point out that Namibia is the first African country to export beef to China. So that is the win-win cooperation that we are talking about."

First launched in 2019, the expo is a major platform for strengthening economic and trade cooperation between China and African countries.

Representatives from 53 African countries and multiple international organizations have attended the expo this year. And the number of exhibitors has reached 1,500, up 70 percent from the previous expo.

SOUNDBITE 7(English): SELIMA HENOKA, Journalist at Namibia Broadcasting Corporation
"So it's really, really honored to see a lot of Africans and Chinese at the expo today. And by the end of the fourth day of the expo, I believe that a lot will come out in terms of cooperation, and also just really the win-win cooperation."

China is Africa's largest trading partner and its fourth-biggest source of investment. Official data shows that bilateral trade between China and Africa totaled 282 billion U.S. dollars in 2022.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Changsha, China.
(XHTV)