China, Africa stepping up economic, trade cooperation as expo opens

Xi added that he stands ready to work with leaders of African countries to build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

Echoing Xi's remarks, Costantinos Berhutesfa, a professor of public policy at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, said that it's the political justice, mutual economic benefit, win-win cooperation, and common development that laid the basis for a shared future of Africa and China.

Africans are already benefiting from such a shared future.

For Kenyan fisherman Abdi Bakari Dura, whose source of livelihood has been anchovy fishing for over a decade, the opening-up of the Chinese market means a steady and sustained income for him.

"Thanks to the vast Chinese market, we no longer have to worry that our fish may go unsold," said the 30-year-old fisherman.