中非贸易助力“非洲咖啡”速达中国

Five years ago, it would take at least three months for African coffee beans to be transported to China. Now, it can be achieved in one month or less, according to Jing Jianhua, a man who has been engaged in the coffee business in Changsha city, central China's Hunan Province, for 25 years.

对于在中国中部湖南省长沙市从事咖啡生意25年的景建华来说，五年前，非洲咖啡豆运到中国至少需要三个月，而现在，一个月甚至更短的时间就能实现。

This significant change is attributed to the implementation of a series of trade facilitation measures taken by China to enhance trade and economic cooperation with Africa.

这一重大变化得益于中国为加强中非经贸合作而采取的一系列贸易便利化措施落地。

Africa is one of the world's most important coffee bean producing regions. Its unique natural environment and high altitudes make African coffee beans highly favored in the market, Jing said.

景建华介绍道，非洲是世界上最重要的咖啡豆产区之一，得天独厚的自然环境和海拔高度使非洲咖啡豆备受市场青睐。

However, due to the long distance between China and Africa, the import of African coffee beans used to require intermediaries, resulting in long procurement cycles, unaffordable prices, and unstable quality of coffee beans, Jing explained.

然而，由于中国与非洲之间相隔甚远，过去大多需要通过中间商做贸易，导致采购周期较长，价格不实惠，咖啡豆货源品质不够稳定，景建华解释说。

The turning point began in 2018, when the 2018 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing announced the implementation of eight major initiatives by China in close collaboration with African countries, with trade facilitation actions and expanding imports of African goods representing key arrangements of the initiatives.

事情转机起于2018年，2018年中非合作论坛北京峰会宣布中国与非洲国家密切合作实施“八大行动”，实施贸易便利化行动和扩大进口非洲商品，是其中重点部署。

Subsequently, the blueprint for the eight major initiatives quickly turned into reality. The China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) settled in Hunan, and the establishment of the China (Hunan) Pilot Free Trade Zone was approved, which included the goal of exploring new pathways and mechanisms for China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.

随后，“八大行动”的蓝图迅速变为现实。中非经贸博览会落户湖南，中国(湖南)自由贸易试验区获批，任务包括探索中非经贸合作新路径新机制。

"Compared to five years ago, African coffee beans have easier access to the Chinese market, greatly saving transportation time and reducing communication costs," Jing said.

“与五年前相比，非洲咖啡豆进入中国市场更加顺畅，大大节省了运输时间，也减少了很多沟通成本。”景建华说。

Nowadays, with the help of government platforms, he has met many reliable partners for business cooperation, ensuring the quality of his African coffee beans, Jing added.

如今有政府平台牵线搭桥，他结识了不少非洲咖啡豆的优质合作伙伴，货源质量更有保障。

Data shows that China has remained Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years.

数据显示，中国已连续15年成为非洲最大的贸易伙伴。

This year, China-Africa trade has reached new heights, with China's total imports from and exports to Africa in the first seven months of this year amounting to 1.19 trillion yuan ($170 billion), setting a new high for the same period historically.

今年，中非贸易再创新高。今年前7个月，中国对非洲进出口总额达1.19万亿元人民币(1700亿美元)，创历史同期新高。

China has implemented a slew of measures and policies to boost its trade with Africa, including opening a green channel for African agricultural products and building platforms for bilateral trade between the two sides.

中国近年来实施了一系列促进中非贸易的措施和政策，包括为非洲开辟农产品“绿色通道”，搭建中非双边贸易平台等。

The CAETE and pilot free trade zone in Hunan have allowed more African products to enter China, with coffee beans being one of them.

中非经贸博览会和中国(湖南)自由贸易试验区让更多非洲产品进入中国，咖啡豆就是其中之一。

In addition to coffee beans, citrus fruits, avocados, chili peppers, sesame seeds, and other African products have appeared on shelves in various markets across China.

除了咖啡豆，柑橘、牛油果、辣椒、芝麻和其他非洲产品也已出现在中国各地商场货柜上。

Economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa is becoming increasingly close, pointed out Lyu Daliang, director of the Department of Statistics and Analysis of the General Administration of Customs.

中国海关总署统计分析司司长吕大良认为，中非经贸合作日趋紧密。

China needs more African products, and Africa also needs more made-in-China products, indicating a promising outlook for bilateral trade development, Lyu noted.

他指出，中国需要更多的“非洲产”，非洲也需要更多的“中国造”，双边贸易发展前景广阔。