China and Africa will formulate and implement the China-Africa Digital Innovation Partnership Plan

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On August 24, 2021, Assistant Foreign Minister Deng Li announced the china-africa Digital Innovation Partnership plan on behalf of China at the China-Africa Internet Development and Cooperation Forum.
Deng said that President Xi Jinping pointed out at last year's Special Summit on China-Africa Solidarity against COVID-19 that China is ready to work with Africa to expand cooperation in digital economy, smart cities, 5G and other new business models. Earlier this year, During his visit to Africa, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi put forward the initiative of China and Africa to jointly build a "digital Africa". China is ready to work with Africa to formulate and implement the China-Africa Digital Innovation Partnership Plan.
First, strengthen digital infrastructure to open up the information artery of economic and social development. China will share digital technology achievements with Africa and promote digital infrastructure connectivity. We encourage Chinese enterprises to cooperate with African countries to participate in digital infrastructure such as optical fiber backbone networks, cross-border connectivity and new-generation mobile communication networks. We will help popularize Internet access in remote areas of Africa and build the "last mile" of information connectivity.
Second, develop the digital economy and promote the integrated development of digital technologies and the real economy. We will support Africa in enhancing the digitalization of its public sector and enterprises, and advance Africa's industrialization process by applying cloud computing, artificial intelligence, the Internet of things, mobile payment and other new technologies. We should strengthen e-commerce cooperation, help high-quality African products enter the Chinese market, and speed up the integration of African information chains and industrial chains through cross-border e-commerce.
Third, carry out digital education to solve the "talent bottleneck" of digital innovation. China will implement a series of programs such as the "International Youth Excellence Program" and the "Vine Program" to strengthen china-africa distance education cooperation, further support Africa in cultivating outstanding young people in the digital field, and encourage Chinese enterprises to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with African innovative talents.
Fourth, enhance digital inclusion and serve ordinary Africans. We will support African countries in applying digital technologies to transport, healthcare, finance and other livelihood areas, building "smart cities", and enhancing national governance and epidemic prevention and control through digital technologies. We will encourage Chinese enterprises to participate in the development of public service platforms such as e-government, e-payment and digital currency in Africa.
Fifth, jointly create digital security and enhance digital governance capacity. Welcomed the party to participate in "hand in hand to build the network space fate community initiatives," and "global data security initiative, willing to work with the parties in the network security emergency response, Internet laws and regulations, etc, to strengthen the dialogue communication, hand in hand to create open, fair and non-discriminatory digital development environment, to explore and develop the global digital governance rules.
Sixth, build a cooperation platform to promote digital progress through exchanges. China will discuss with Africa the establishment of a High-Level dialogue platform on China-Africa digital cooperation, strengthen communication and exchanges with African governments and organizations such as Smart Africa, continue to hold events such as the Innovative Tour of Young African Scientists and Scientists to China, and support the development of a China-Africa innovation cooperation center.
Deng emphasized that China's initiatives will never stay on the "vision" or paper, and China will work with Africa to formulate and implement the China-Africa Digital Innovation Partnership plan to achieve early harvest as soon as possible. Recently, a number of china-africa cooperation optical fiber backbone network projects will be launched in Africa. From September, the E-commerce Promotion Season for African products and the China-Africa Beidou Cooperation Forum will be held. China will also work with Africa to design practical measures for digital cooperation in the next three years, which will be included in the outcome document of the new session of focAC.
Hosted by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Forum was attended by minister-level officials in charge of digital and telecommunications from African countries and the African Union Commission, diplomatic envoys to China, scholars and entrepreneurs from Both Sides.