China and 26 African countries launch action plan to boost digital cooperation, development

In a significant move to enhance digital collaboration, China and 26 African countries on Monday unveiled an action plan in Beijing to advance digital cooperation and development.

This initiative aims to strengthen partnerships in digital policy, infrastructure, cutting-edge innovation, digital transformation, security, and talent nurturing over the next three years.

The action plan includes the implementation of 10 digital transformation demonstration projects and the training of at least 1,000 professionals in the digital field.

Jin Zhuanglong, minister of industry and information technology, China's top industry regulator, emphasized the importance of digital development in achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development.

He said China highly values cooperation with African nations in the digital domain and will continue to adhere to the principles of consultation, contribution, and shared benefits. "We will actively engage in digital cooperation with African countries to build a shared future in digital development."

According to him, China and African countries can make more efforts to leverage channels such as the Belt and Road Initiative to enhance dialogue and strategic policy alignment, sharing development experiences and charting a course for stable and long-term cooperation.

Meanwhile, he called for efforts to co-build digital infrastructure. Under market-driven principles, more efforts can be made to promote the construction of accessible, affordable, and sustainable digital infrastructure. This includes practical cooperation in mobile communications, data centers, and other key areas, ensuring the benefits of digital development are shared widely among China and African nations, Jin added.