Somalia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali inaugurated the Somali Pavilion at the 4th China-Africa Trade and Economic Expo in Changsha, Hunan Province.
Minister Abdisalam emphasized the significance of this development during the opening ceremony, stating:
“This moment is a powerful reminder of where we are headed as a country. Somali businesspeople from every region are here today, not only to display our products but to share our journey of resilience, enterprise, and hope.”
Somalia’s presence at the Expo aligns with its broader strategic goal of expanding trade partnerships, increasing exports, and attracting investment in key sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, and traditional medicine. The initiative forms part of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), reinforcing the country’s commitment to leveraging economic diplomacy for national development, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Blue Book of China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation: Development Report (2025) highlights expanding cooperation in sectors such as industry, agriculture, telecommunications, digital economy, new infrastructure, green energy, and financial services. Agricultural trade between China and Africa is transitioning from raw material exports to processed goods; cooperation in digital and technology-related services is gaining traction, and cross-border e-commerce is playing a growing role alongside traditional trade channels, said the document.
