Experts highlight broader cooperation as three-year action plan gets rolling

With the implementation of the 2025-27 action plan unveiled at last year's Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit now underway, experts are projecting deeper China-Africa collaboration in science and technology, focusing on digital infrastructure, digital economy and agricultural modernization.

This is in addition to partnerships in education, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as digital skills and vocational training — aimed at strengthening Africa's talent pools and promoting innovation.

Dennis Munene, executive director of the China-Africa Center at the Africa Policy Institute in Kenya, said China is churning out unique technologies that could help Africa address pressing challenges such as climate change.

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"We are going to experience a lot of technologies that will help deal with climate change issues," he said. "This is by having seeds or mechanisms to enhance drought resistance (for the affected) arid and semiarid areas in Africa."

For Africa to benefit from the high-tech investment from China in line with last year's FOCAC summit partnership agenda, Munene said skill development will be key, calling on higher learning institutions to equip young people with the skills to develop homegrown artificial intelligence models and solutions.

"Through Luban Workshops, a China-assisted vocational training program, the continent will be able to train many young people on how to develop homegrown AI tools that are going to solve some of the challenges that the continent is grappling with," Munene said.

He urged young people to take advantage of the available scholarship opportunities and visit China for firsthand experience with artificial intelligence tools.

China boasts a burgeoning AI industry — with prominent startups such as DeepSeek, Moonshot AI and Baichuan, alongside established tech giants including ByteDance and Alibaba — which are developing cutting-edge AI tools and models.

Low cost

Noting that DeepSeek has demystified the narrative that developing AI models is costly, Munene urged AI developers in Africa to learn how China managed to build a platform that has transformed the world at a low cost, and use that knowledge for homegrown AI developments.

Xn Iraki, an associate professor at the University of Nairobi's Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, said China has gone through a steep learning curve, becoming a global leader in electronics, AI and electric cars.

"China invested in research and development, but learned from the West. We too can learn from China, with more focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, from kindergarten to university," he said.

Iraki suggested an arrangement where students from Africa could further their studies in China, challenging them to first learn the Chinese language so as to be able to access the vast knowledge on science and technology that is yet to be translated into English.

Through digital superhighways, China and Africa can exchange latest advances in science and technology, he said, adding that the information exchange should be symmetrical with each partner learning about and from each other.

James Shikwati, director of the think tank Inter Region Economic Network in Kenya, said Africa, being a youthful continent, should borrow a leaf from China on structuring its education system to align with modern standards.

"Africa should rethink its education system so as to make sure that we give our youth proper education that can align with the unfolding new world order," he said.

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Shikwati suggested partnerships between the Chinese private sector and their African counterparts in promoting science and technology through exchange of ideas and knowledge.

New technologies will help Africa utilize and add value to its vast mineral resources, improving competitiveness of its products in the global market, he said.

"If we can have a partnership that brings Chinese technology into Africa and enables African people to co-create their own solutions in their own context, (then) that is really going to greatly benefit the continent."

edithmutethya@chinadaily.com.cn