The China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Research Institute is put forward by the Standing Committee of the Hunan Provincial Committee. Based on the two national platforms of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo and the leading area for in-depth economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa, it implements the "eight major initiatives" proposed by the General Secretary Xi Jinping on the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and promotes the intellectual supporting platform for the long-term mechanism of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation and exchanges.

      Under the guidance of the Department of Commerce of Hunan Province, the Research Institute is led by Hunan University and jointly established by Central South University, Xiangtan University and Hunan Agricultural University. It aims to provide decision support for promoting the construction of a new highland of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, carry out scientific research on solving the fundamental, overall and long-term major theoretical and practical problems in the development of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, transport and cultivate compound economic and trade talents (including undergraduate, master and doctoral students/overseas students/senior management training, etc.) for the sustainable development of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, and provide consulting services to meet the actual needs of enterprises related to China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.