China-Africa expo offers great opportunities for DR Congo: minister

By Xinhua

KINSHASA,June 30 (Xinhua) -- The third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo 
creates great opportunities for the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
(DRC), which deems China a "privileged" and "strategic" partner, 
Congolese External Trade Minister Jean-Lucien Bussa Tongba has said.During
 an exclusive interview with Xinhua ahead of his departure for China, 
Bussa Tongba said the DRC attaches great importance to the event, which 
runs from June 29 to July 2 in Changsha, the capital of central China's 
Hunan Province."The
 expo is a huge opportunity for the DRC which is an important partner 
with China," said the minister, who heads the DRC delegation to the 
expo.The
 event, he said, takes place shortly after the historic state visit by 
DRC President Felix Tshisekedi to China, during which the two heads of 
state decided to upgrade bilateral ties to comprehensive strategic 
cooperative partnership.For
 Bussa Tongba, the expo is an important platform to present the DRC's 
increasing business opportunities as well as to improve the business 
environment for Chinese investors in the DRC.China
 has been the DRC's largest trading partner and source of foreign 
investment for many years in a row. In 2022, two-way trade reached 
21.898 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of 51.7 percent, as
 China has given zero-tariff treatment to 97 percent of DRC's products 
while being exported to China under the preferential trade policy.Bussa
 Tongba also pointed out that China could play a vital role in the 
diversification of the DRC's economy, which will serve the interests of 
all, including the Chinese investors."The
 DRC government prioritizes the diversification of its economy, which 
would also be a key message that I would share with Chinese investors. 
It corresponds to our internal need, the world market's need and 
certainly the need of the Chinese investors," he said.Besides
 business talks, Bussa Tongba hoped that the event would be a platform 
for the exchange of experience with the Chinese counterparts."Apart
 from talking about businesses, we are also in China for the 
experience-sharing. China's experiences in economic development are so 
enormous that the DRC, which is a developing country, should learn from 
China," said the minister.Bussa
 Tongba, who has taken a keen interest in China, said he is personally 
inspired by China's development path, regarding the partnership with 
China as vital to its development."China
 has, over the past four decades, shown us that it is possible to 
realize a great leap. The Chinese model inspired and reinspires the DRC.
 It inspires me personally as a member of the DRC government," he said. 
"The partnership with China could allow the DRC to realize its leap."Recalling
 the first edition of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in 
2018, Bussa Tongba said that the in-person attendance allows him to see 
and sense the dynamism behind Chinese development.This
 photo shows an outdoor exhibition area at the Changsha International 
Convention and Exhibition Center during the third China-Africa Economic 
and Trade Expo in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, June 29, 
2023. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)"China
 is a country constantly on the move. The DRC needs to understand the 
dynamism behind China's development. Being there psychically allows us 
to see and feel," he said.The
 minister said that he also has high expectations for other trade events
 in China, including the 6th CIIE in November 2023, reaffirming that the
 DRC would seize each opportunity to share experiences with China."China is a very privileged partner for the DRC," the minister noted."I
 have the confidence to say that the Chinese model works. It is in all 
of our interests to step up our economic and commercial relations with 
China," he said.■