China has announced plans to explore broader cooperation with Africa in digital innovation under the China-Africa Partnership Plan on Digital Innovation.
The Assistant Foreign Minister Deng Li, who disclosed this on August 24 at the China-Africa Internet Development and Cooperation Forum, said President Xi Jinping at the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19 last year, proposed new business forms as digital economy, smart city and 5G.
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The State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, made the proposal for China and Africa to cooperate in building a Digital Africa during his visit to Africa earlier this year, adding that China is ready to work with Africa on the proposal.
Among programmes lined up under the cooperation include strengthening the digital infrastructure to unclog the information artery of economic and social development, growing the digital economy to promote integrated development of digital technologies and the real economy, promoting digital education to overcome the “talent bottleneck” that constrains digital innovation, promoting digital inclusiveness to benefit the wider African public, and jointly upholding digital security and enhancing digital governance capacity.
China also said it is building cooperation platforms to promote digital progress through exchanges by “the establishment of a high-level dialogue platform on China-Africa digital cooperation, and strengthen communication and exchanges with African governments and organizations such as Smart Africa.
He added that China will continue to host activities such as the “China Innovation Tour for African Young Scientists” and support the building of the China-Africa Innovation Cooperation Center.
