A group of international buyers poses for a photo in front of the exhibition center of the 5th RCEP (Shandong) Import Expo in Linyi, Shandong. [Photo/Langya News]

An investment promotion event for Linyi–Botswana cooperation was held in Linyi, East China's Shandong province, as the 5th RCEP (Shandong) Import Expo is in full swing.

The event came as China-Africa cooperation continues to deepen under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Botswana, a key BRI partner, offers rich opportunities across mining, energy, agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure development. Linyi, in turn, is home to China's largest market cluster and a modern logistics network that extends to global markets. Its commerce-driven industrial system aligns well with Botswana's development needs, offering a solid foundation for collaboration.

The event was described as a concrete step to implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit. It also reflects Linyi's commitment to building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

The event stressed the importance of enhancing mutual trust, expanding consensus, and strengthening comprehensive exchanges and people-to-people ties. It called for promoting investment in key industries, deepening economic and trade cooperation, and achieving win-win development through close collaboration.

The event highlighted Linyi's growing role as a gateway for Chinese-African trade and investment, leveraging its logistics strength and industrial diversity to partner with African nations like Botswana.