The fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo was held in Changsha, Hunan province on June 12-15. Themed “China and Africa: Together Toward Modernization”, the expo was designed to further facilitate the China-Africa ties in the field of trade and economy.

To implement the achievement of the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the FOCAC Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027), China National Institute of Standardization (CNIS) and GS1 China attended the expo and set up booths as vital participants of the plan on China-Africa quality enhancement of the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR).

Through the booths, CNIS and GS1 China introduced the efforts to construct the China-Africa Center for Standardization Cooperation and Research as well as the platform for digital mutual trust verification for China-Africa trade.They demonstrated the important role of standardization and item coding technology in promoting the China-Africa trade and economy as well as the industrial upgrading in Africa.

In terms of China-Africa standardization cooperation, CNIS introduced its latest research and the construction progress and phased achievements of the China-Africa Center for Standardization Cooperation and Research, and collected the technical demands of standardization from Chinese companies in Africa. CNIS experts gave keynote speeches on the China-Africa cooperation in enhancing the quality of products and services,and facilitating the connectivity of quality infrastructure.

In terms of building mutual trust by item coding, GS1 China offered on-site presentation and case sharing to communicate with exhibitors and visitors at home and abroad. Based on item coding, the platform for digital mutual trust verification for China-Africa trade has established the digital recognition rules for products to smooth the way for the mutual recognition of product identification,trustworthy data and unhindered circulation between China and Africa.It will benefit the trade of quality products,crack down on counterfeit and shoddy products,and safeguard the rights and interests of Chinese and African enterprises.

By attending the expo, CNIS and GS1 China expanded the international influence of SAMR’s plan on China-Africa quality enhancement, and drew a new picture of promoting the industrial upgrading with standards and coding and empowering the high-quality development of China-Africa cooperation.