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Tag: Africa-China cooperation

  • East African fashion life show opens in Kenya to boost textiles, apparels trade

    East African fashion life show opens in Kenya to boost textiles, apparels trade

    The second edition of East Africa (Kenya) Fashion Life Show was officially opened on Friday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, drawing over 70 exhibitors from Kenya and China.

    Chinese enterprises are exhibiting textiles, packaging material, baby toys, personal care products and wigs, home decor, and gift wrappers during the expo that runs from Thursday to Saturday.

    Yin Maolin, Party chief of Mudan District in Heze City, east China’s Shandong Province, led a high-level Chinese delegation to attend the expo that will highlight the potential of East Africa as a hub for the fashion, sustainable textile, and apparel sector.

    According to Yin, the fashion show offers a platform for deepening economic partnership between China and Kenya, focusing on trade in high-quality manufactured products and jointly establishing seamless supply chains.

    Pius Rotich, general manager for investment promotion and business development services at Kenya Investment Authority, said the government has created a conducive policy and regulatory environment to spur the growth of the textile and apparel sector.

    Kenya is committed to a partnership with Chinese investors in a bid to manufacture high-quality leather products for export in the African market and beyond, boosting foreign exchange earnings and job creation, said Rotich.

    Gao Wei, managing director of Afripeak Expo Kenya Ltd, co-organizer of the 2025 East African Fashion Show, said this year’s edition had grown bigger in terms of the number of visitors and exhibitors, reaffirming dynamism in the region’s textile and apparel sectors.

    The fashion expo, according to Gao, will run under the theme of “Inspire Friendship, Connect World,” bringing together Chinese and Kenyan enterprises dealing with household accessories, cosmetics, and electronics under one roof.

    Gao said the expo will also create a platform for Chinese business executives to network with their Kenyan counterparts, explore two-way trade in leather products.

    Hundreds of Kenyan visitors thronged to the East Africa Fashion expo, with the majority acknowledging their appreciation of Chinese-made products, including wigs, cosmetics and fabrics.

    Waceke Mwaura, a female entrepreneur, said that she was impressed by the wig showcased by Chinese exhibitors, adding that its high quality has made it popular among local clients.

    Mwaura said she has been importing hair from China to supply to local retailers and beauty parlors, even as she scouts for distributorship arrangements with Chinese manufacturers.

    Paul Munyua, a middle-aged pedicurist, said that he visited the expo to gain insight into new beauty products in the local market imported from China that are affordable to his clients

    Meanhwile the fusion of Chinese and African fashion came into the spotlight on Friday when students from Moi University staged a catwalk during the second edition of the East Africa (Kenya) Fashion Life Show 2025, held in the capital, Nairobi.

    Models participating in the fashion show wore elegant attire that blended Chinese and African fabrics, patterns, designs, and colors, demonstrating cross-cultural ties between the two sides.

    Liz Nyakiongora, a part-time model and communications major at Moi University, said she felt honored to participate in the catwalk and demonstrate both Chinese and African fashion.

    “What we wanted to bring out in this fashion show is the solidarity and prosperity in China-Kenya relations. As an African model, being able to showcase this fusion of fashion from both sides was a great moment. We took the prints from Kenya and China and came up with these final products,” Nyakiongora said.

    Cavince Otieno Ochieng, an arts major at Moi University, said the event emphasized inclusivity, cross-cultural understanding and harmony through the blending of African and Chinese prints.

    “As a young Kenyan, I look forward to more inclusivity in fashion and having people from different countries come together to form a common thread that unites us,” Ochieng said.

    While acknowledging his appreciation of Chinese fashion, Ochieng said it embodies positive virtues of humanity, including unity, talent, beauty, and a vibrant aura.

    Biutha Mosomi, dean of students at Moi University’s Nairobi Campus, said the fashion show helped spotlight the richness, authenticity, and beauty of African and Chinese fabrics.

    He stressed that blending Chinese and African fashion will help strengthen bonds of friendship and understanding, in addition to opening up revenue streams for young local designers.

  • Africa-China cooperation: A cornerstone for global stability and development

    Africa-China cooperation: A cornerstone for global stability and development

    As the world grapples with increasing instability, economic volatility, and a retreat from multilateralism, Africa-China cooperation has emerged as a pivotal force in shaping a more balanced and just global order. Former South African diplomat Gert Grobler recently underscored the critical role of this partnership, particularly in addressing the pressing challenges facing the Global South.

    Speaking during the 38th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Grobler highlighted the stark reality of an international system marked by protectionism, isolationism, and diminishing multilateral efforts, particularly by Western nations. “We are living in an unfair and unjust world between the United States and other Western countries,” he remarked, emphasising that Africa’s engagement with China offers a viable path towards a fairer economic and political landscape.

    Africa’s collaboration with China is not just about economic exchanges but extends to broader development and security concerns. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative have provided Africa with concrete mechanisms to advance infrastructure, economic integration, and security cooperation. These initiatives are widely recognised across the Global South as constructive responses to the economic and political imbalances perpetuated by Western-dominated financial institutions.

    China’s commitment to the Global South is evident in its continued emphasis on fair trade, investment in infrastructure, and the promotion of sustainable development. The trade volume between Africa and China reached an impressive 282 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, with China accounting for nearly 20 percent of all foreign direct investment in Africa. Moreover, the Asian economic giant has consistently supported the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), further solidifying its role as a key development partner.

    Grobler pointed out that, while the United States and its Western allies have increasingly withdrawn from multilateral commitments, China has stepped up its engagement with Africa and other developing regions. The Western model, historically marked by exploitative economic arrangements and conditional aid, is losing its appeal as African nations seek alternatives that respect their sovereignty and promote genuine development.

    The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has been instrumental in strengthening these ties, with the 2024 Beijing Summit setting the stage for deeper collaboration through six proposals for joint modernisation and ten partnership actions. These blueprints provide a strategic framework for economic growth, technological advancement, and security cooperation, ensuring that Africa is not merely a recipient of foreign aid but an active participant in shaping its own future.

    Looking ahead, Africa and China must focus on the effective implementation of their existing cooperation mechanisms. The African Continental Free Trade Area offers a unique opportunity to integrate over 1.4 billion people into a unified market, and with China’s involvement, this initiative could transform Africa into a global economic powerhouse.

    Furthermore, as geopolitical tensions continue to mount, it is imperative that Africa and China reinforce their commitment to multilateralism. Platforms like the G20, FOCAC, and BRICS provide avenues for influencing global governance and ensuring that the voices of developing nations are heard.

    China’s role as a long-term, reliable partner of the Global South cannot be overstated. As Grobler aptly put it, “Together, Africa and China have a very important role to contribute not only to global peace but also to economic growth and development.” By deepening their engagement and leveraging strategic initiatives, Africa and China have the potential to create a more equitable and prosperous world order—one that prioritises cooperation over conflict, development over dependency, and fairness over-exploitation.

    The Africa-China partnership is not just an economic necessity; it is a crucial element in the broader quest for global stability and sustainable development. At a time when the world is increasingly fragmented, this alliance stands as a beacon of hope for a more just and balanced international system.