Wu Xinming, Party secretary of Nantong, meets with a delegation of African envoys in China on Nov 3. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Wu Xinming, Party secretary of Nantong, Jiangsu province, met with a delegation of African envoys in China, comprising ambassadors and diplomats from 23 countries, on Nov 3.

Wu welcomed the delegation and, after a brief overview of Nantong's economic and social development, said that China-Africa relations are at their strongest in history.

As one of China's earliest coastal cities to open up, Nantong benefits from favorable geographical conditions and a solid industrial foundation. It also established early and extensive exchanges with Africa, he added.

Currently, Nantong is proactively leveraging opportunities from national strategies like the Yangtze River Delta integration and is deeply engaged in the Belt and Road Initiative. Its goal is to establish new advantages for a more advanced open economy, according to Wu.

Nantong and African countries have promising opportunities for cooperation. Wu expressed hope that this visit would help strengthen collaboration in areas like home textiles and construction, fostering mutual benefits and win-win results.

Martin Mpana, Cameroon's ambassador to China, expressed gratitude on behalf of the envoys for their warm reception and commended the city's recent progress in economic and social development.

He said that Nantong has a robust industrial base and a supportive environment, particularly noted for its textile, apparel, and construction sectors, which are well-regarded in Africa. Recognizing Africa's enormous market potential, he is eager to foster stronger cooperation between Nantong and African countries in areas such as modern agriculture, textiles, and infrastructure, aiming to promote mutual growth and strengthen the friendship and prosperity of both Chinese and African peoples.