On August 15, 2025, the China-Africa Friendly Economic and Trade Development Foundation and Development Reimagined formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Beijing, aiming to deepen cooperation between the two parties and jointly advance China-Africa investment matchmaking, industrial upgrading, and sustainable development.
Founded in September 2014, the China-Africa Friendly Economic and Trade Development Foundation is China’s first foundation dedicated to China-Africa economic and trade fields, under the jurisdiction of the China-Africa Friendship Leadership Group of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Adhering to the principles of “pragmatism, cooperation, development, and win-win,” the Foundation undertakes tasks entrusted by the government, supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their “going global” efforts, strengthens China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, and funds China-Africa sci-tech and economic and trade projects. It has also established close ties with the embassies of 53 African countries and over 60 countries along the “Belt and Road Initiative” in China, serving as a bridge for economic and trade development between China, Africa, and countries along the “Belt and Road Initiative.”
Development Reimagined is an international development consulting firm focusing on multi-field cooperation between China and Africa, with its headquarters in Beijing and offices in Nairobi and London. Its research areas cover climate action, investment facilitation, development finance, trade, health, etc. Its core business is to provide strategic and policy research in support of Africa’s sustainable development, and to build cooperation bridges and expand partnership networks for government agencies, multilateral financial institutions, embassies, research institutions, foundations, and enterprises from both China and Africa.
Mr. Huang Zhaojin, Executive Chairman of the China-Africa Friendly Economic and Trade Development Foundation, and Ms. Hannah Ryder, CEO of Development Reimagined, formally signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Foundation’s office in Beijing
In accordance with the signed MoU, the two parties will leverage their respective strengths—the Foundation’s network of over 200 members and Development Reimagined’s cross-regional cooperation network—to promote investment matchmaking in key sectors such as modern agriculture, renewable energy, automotive, healthcare, trade, and mining; accurately match mature African development projects with high-quality Chinese enterprises; help African countries enhance industrial value addition and industrialization levels; and improve the quality, competitiveness, and export diversity of African commodities. During the cooperation, the two parties will establish a regular consultation and information exchange mechanism to share information on digital development policies and industry cooperation projects, and connect multiple resources including Chinese and African government officials, diplomatic missions, financial institutions, and enterprises.
As institutions with the shared mission of deepening China-Africa economic and trade cooperation and supporting African sustainable development, the signing of this MoU by the China-Africa Friendly Economic and Trade Development Foundation and Development Reimagined will inject impetus into the implementation of the Beijing Action Plan of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and continuously contribute to building a closer China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.
