China and African Nations Unveil Action Plan in Digital Sector
China and several African nations have announced a collaborative action plan aimed at enhancing the digital sector.
TroibNews 
China and African countries have unveiled a China-Africa Action Plan for Digital Cooperation and Development during the China-Africa Digital Cooperation Forum on Monday. The plan aims to enhance cooperation and development in the digital sector between China and African nations.
The countries acknowledge the crucial role of digital development in advancing modernization. They see a digital Africa as a significant driver for global development. Digital growth can foster inclusive growth and sustainable development, making it a strategic pathway to realizing the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035.
Both sides believe that seizing the opportunities of the digital era and boosting digital cooperation are essential. This aligns with the development paths and common interests of China and African countries, contributing to the creation of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.
The countries stress that international cooperation is vital for narrowing the digital divide and ensuring that people globally benefit from digital technology.
With a foundation of mutual respect and considering the willingness, capacity, and needs of each party, the following actions have been agreed upon voluntarily:
1. Digital Policy Cooperation
Enhancing policy exchanges and cooperation is key for implementing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union Agenda 2063. The parties will improve the alignment and communication of digital strategies, plans, and policies, share development experiences, and promote mutual learning. Cooperative activities may include negotiating and signing cooperation documents, conducting dialogues and mutual visits, establishing cooperation mechanisms, and optimizing policy environments to support businesses.
2. Digital Infrastructure Cooperation
Digital infrastructure is vital for promoting connectivity and improving digital inclusiveness in Africa. The parties will foster collaboration on building accessible, affordable, and sustainable digital infrastructure. They will encourage enterprises to engage in pragmatic cooperation in next-generation mobile communications, backbone networks, satellite communications, data centers, and cloud computing, enhancing connectivity and digital inclusiveness.
3. Digital Innovation Cooperation
Digital innovation is essential for boosting digital development momentum and stimulating the vitality of the digital economy. The parties will jointly promote the development and adoption of emerging technologies and explore cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, 5G/6G, high-performance computing, and quantum communications. They will support the establishment of joint Centers for AI Cooperation and strengthen cooperation in SMEs, innovation project incubation, investment and financing for startups, and the empowerment of youth and women.
4. Digital Transformation Cooperation
Digital technologies have immense potential across various fields, significantly improving the efficiency of economic and social organizations. The parties will collaborate to promote the widespread adoption of digital technologies, accelerating digital transformation in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, energy, public services, urban management, finance, healthcare, education, tourism, retail, and other sectors. Over the next three years, they plan to implement ten digital transformation demonstration projects to empower high-quality China-Africa cooperation through digitization.
5. Digital Security Cooperation
Balancing development and security is crucial. The parties will cooperate on cyber security, data security, and personal information protection, encouraging enterprises to develop digital security technologies and solutions. They will support skill training and drill exercises and explore building a joint laboratory on digital security.
6. Digital Capability Cooperation
Strengthening digital capacity is key to implementing strategic plans for digital development. The parties will enhance the exchange of ideas and best practices and promote personnel training and exchange programs. They will encourage research institutions, think tanks, and universities to collaborate on capacity-building cooperation. Over the next three years, the parties aim to train at least 1,000 digital talents to improve digital capabilities and literacy.
To increase the efficiency and effectiveness of these cooperation efforts, the parties will build collaborative partnerships at various levels, engaging governments, business entities, academia, and financial institutions to facilitate China-Africa digital cooperation and development.
Looking ahead, more participants are welcome to join the action plan to enrich cooperation dimensions and share development opportunities.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
The countries acknowledge the crucial role of digital development in advancing modernization. They see a digital Africa as a significant driver for global development. Digital growth can foster inclusive growth and sustainable development, making it a strategic pathway to realizing the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035.
Both sides believe that seizing the opportunities of the digital era and boosting digital cooperation are essential. This aligns with the development paths and common interests of China and African countries, contributing to the creation of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.
The countries stress that international cooperation is vital for narrowing the digital divide and ensuring that people globally benefit from digital technology.
With a foundation of mutual respect and considering the willingness, capacity, and needs of each party, the following actions have been agreed upon voluntarily:
1. Digital Policy Cooperation
Enhancing policy exchanges and cooperation is key for implementing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union Agenda 2063. The parties will improve the alignment and communication of digital strategies, plans, and policies, share development experiences, and promote mutual learning. Cooperative activities may include negotiating and signing cooperation documents, conducting dialogues and mutual visits, establishing cooperation mechanisms, and optimizing policy environments to support businesses.
2. Digital Infrastructure Cooperation
Digital infrastructure is vital for promoting connectivity and improving digital inclusiveness in Africa. The parties will foster collaboration on building accessible, affordable, and sustainable digital infrastructure. They will encourage enterprises to engage in pragmatic cooperation in next-generation mobile communications, backbone networks, satellite communications, data centers, and cloud computing, enhancing connectivity and digital inclusiveness.
3. Digital Innovation Cooperation
Digital innovation is essential for boosting digital development momentum and stimulating the vitality of the digital economy. The parties will jointly promote the development and adoption of emerging technologies and explore cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, 5G/6G, high-performance computing, and quantum communications. They will support the establishment of joint Centers for AI Cooperation and strengthen cooperation in SMEs, innovation project incubation, investment and financing for startups, and the empowerment of youth and women.
4. Digital Transformation Cooperation
Digital technologies have immense potential across various fields, significantly improving the efficiency of economic and social organizations. The parties will collaborate to promote the widespread adoption of digital technologies, accelerating digital transformation in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, energy, public services, urban management, finance, healthcare, education, tourism, retail, and other sectors. Over the next three years, they plan to implement ten digital transformation demonstration projects to empower high-quality China-Africa cooperation through digitization.
5. Digital Security Cooperation
Balancing development and security is crucial. The parties will cooperate on cyber security, data security, and personal information protection, encouraging enterprises to develop digital security technologies and solutions. They will support skill training and drill exercises and explore building a joint laboratory on digital security.
6. Digital Capability Cooperation
Strengthening digital capacity is key to implementing strategic plans for digital development. The parties will enhance the exchange of ideas and best practices and promote personnel training and exchange programs. They will encourage research institutions, think tanks, and universities to collaborate on capacity-building cooperation. Over the next three years, the parties aim to train at least 1,000 digital talents to improve digital capabilities and literacy.
To increase the efficiency and effectiveness of these cooperation efforts, the parties will build collaborative partnerships at various levels, engaging governments, business entities, academia, and financial institutions to facilitate China-Africa digital cooperation and development.
Looking ahead, more participants are welcome to join the action plan to enrich cooperation dimensions and share development opportunities.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
