The area serves as a gateway to the Chinese market for many foreign companies, as well as a bridgehead for Chinese companies looking to expand their presence overseas.
Trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area, or AfCFTA, began on Jan 1, bringing into being the largest free trade zone by number of countries participating.
Chinese companies have shown increasing interest in investing in the continent. More than 3,500 Chinese companies have been set up in Africa, of which private companies account for over 70 percent.
As of Oct. 31, a total of 4,168 listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges had disclosed their third quarter reports for 2021, with over 80 percent of them making profits.
People who witnessed China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) 20 years ago would have never expected the "Double Eleven" today would be a totally different sight in this country.