Determinants and potential of China — Africa agricultural trade: An empirical study based on gravity model

This year is the fiftieth anniversary of China-Africa agricultural cooperation. China and Africa are highly complementary in the agriculture resources, markets and technologies. After fifty-year development, China-Africa agricultural cooperation has yielded great results; the bilateral trade of agricultural products is developing rapidly and potentially. This paper systematically analyzes the determinants and verifies the different effects of the distance, population, economic and policy factors on China-Africa agricultural trade with the use of gravity model. The conclusion could be made that agricultural products between China and Africa meet Linder´s theorem, more similar to demand and products, larger volume of trade potential. Based on gravity model, the paper estimates the potential and priorities for bilateral agricultural trade. The conclusion and some suggestions are given Finally.