Source: China Machine Visual Network

China and African countries (hereinafter referred to as the "Parties") jointly issued the Action Plan on the Development of China-Africa Digital Cooperation during the Forum on China-Africa Digital Cooperation (Beijing, 29 July 2024), aiming to promote China-Africa digital cooperation and development.

The parties recognize that digital development plays an important role in advancing the modernization process. Digital Africa is an important engine for global development, and promoting digital development is conducive to inclusive growth and sustainable development, and an important way to realize the Vision 2035 of China-Africa cooperation.

All parties agreed that seizing the opportunities of the digital era, strengthening digital cooperation and advancing modernization through digitalization are in line with their respective development paths and common interests, and conducive to jointly building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

International cooperation is critical to bridging the digital divide and ensuring that people everywhere can enjoy the benefits of digital technologies.

The parties agreed to jointly advance the following actions on a voluntary basis.

1.digital policy cooperation action

Strengthening policy communication and cooperation is crucial to jointly advance the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the AU Agenda 2063. The parties will strengthen communication on digital strategies, plans and policies, share development experience and promote mutual learning. We will negotiate and sign cooperation documents as needed, strengthen dialogue and mutual visits, set up cooperation mechanisms, create a favorable policy environment, and create favorable conditions for the development of the digital industry.

2.digital infrastructure cooperation actions

Digital infrastructure is of great value in promoting connectivity and improving digital inclusion in Africa. All parties will promote the construction of accessible, affordable and sustainable digital infrastructure, and encourage enterprises to carry out practical cooperation in next-generation mobile communications, backbone networks, satellite communications, data centers, cloud computing and other fields, so as to enhance connectivity and digital inclusion.

3.digital innovation cooperation action

Digital innovation plays an important role in enhancing the momentum of digital development, stimulating the vitality of the digital economy, and promoting the development of digital start-ups. The parties will jointly promote the development of cutting-edge technologies, explore cooperation in artificial intelligence, 5G/6G, high-performance computing, quantum communication and other fields, and promote the establishment of artificial intelligence cooperation centers. The parties will jointly strengthen cooperation in the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, incubation of innovative projects, investment and financing of start-ups, and empowerment of youth and women.

4. Collaborative action on digital transformation

Digital technology has great application potential in various fields, can significantly improve the operational efficiency of economic and social organizations, and stimulate the vitality of various industries. The parties will promote the popularization of digital technologies, accelerate the digital transformation of agriculture, manufacturing, mining, energy, public services, urban management, finance, health care, education, tourism, retail and other fields, and jointly build 10 digital transformation demonstration projects in the next three years, so as to enable high-quality development of China-Africa cooperation through digitalization.

5. Cooperation on digital security

Integrated development and security are crucial in the development of digital technologies. The parties will jointly carry out cooperation in cyber security, data security and personal information protection, encourage enterprises to develop digital security capabilities, support China-Africa digital security skills training and exercise activities, and explore the establishment of a joint digital security laboratory.

6. Collaborative action on digital capabilities

Strengthening digital capacity building is conducive to promoting the implementation of digital strategies and enhancing the internal driving force for industrial development. The parties will strengthen mutual learning and experience sharing, carry out personnel training exchanges, encourage enterprises, universities and think tanks to build cooperation platforms for capacity building, and jointly train 1,000 digital talents in the next three years to enhance digital capabilities and literacy.

In order to effectively advance cooperation actions, all parties will work together to build multi-level partnerships between governments, enterprises, think tanks and financial institutions to jointly promote the development of the digital sector in China and Africa.

The countries acceding to this Action Plan include China and Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Cape Verde, Gambia, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Gabon, Zimbabwe, Comoros, Cote d 'Ivoire, Rwanda, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, SAO Tome and Principe, Sudan, Somalia, Tunisia, Uganda, Chad.