South Africa and China Expand Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence Education

 Devdiscourse, a media platform for development stakeholders, posted on 13 May 2026 an article titled "SA and China Deepen Partnership in AI Education, Technical Skills and Student Mobility."

South Africa and China have agreed to expand significantly cooperation in digital education, artificial intelligence (AI), vocational training, and student mobility following discussions in Hangzhou.  This is part of a broader effort to align education systems with industrial transformation, technological innovation, and future workforce demands.

Suggestions for Canada's Engagement in Africa in Shadow of China

 Canada's Institute for Research on Public Policy published on its digital Policy Options platform on 26 September 2024 a commentary titled "As China Courts Africa, Canada Must Rethink Its Africa Strategy" by Isaac Odoom, Carleton University.  

The expansion of China's engagement in Africa poses a challenge for Canada to find a path to work with Africa in a meaningful way.  The author says Canada should offer something distinct from Western paternalism and China's transactional partnerships.  He suggests that Canada leverage its African diaspora, capitalize on strength in green energy and digital innovation, invest in training African youth, and promote good governance.  

Algeria, Egypt, and China's Digital Silk Road

 The Information Society published in 2024 an analysis titled "Learning along the Digital Silk Road? Technology Transfer, Power, and Chinese ICT Corporations in North Africa" by Tin Hinane El-Kadi, London School of Economics.  

The analysis investigates the technology spillovers emanating from two Chinese tech giants--Huawei and ZTE--in Algeria and Egypt.  It argues that despite localizing activities that bear the promise of generating significant linkages, the two Chinese tech firms created no meaningful learning opportunities for domestic entities that contribute to technological upgrading.  The Digital Silk Road risks creating new technological dependencies; locking local ICT actors into activities and relationships captured and defined by Chinese tech giants.  

South Africa Opens Huawei Innovation Center

 APN News published on 18 July 2023 a corporate news story titled "South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa Officially Opens Huawei Innovation Centre, Describing It as a Boost for Local Innovation."

Underscoring South Africa's close relations with China, President Cyril Ramaphosa opened Huawei's Innovation Center in Johannesburg.  It showcases Huawei's latest and most innovative  digital technologies, including 5G, Cloud, and artificial intelligence.  

US-China Digital Competition in Africa

 The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on 28 July 2021 on US Trade and Investment in Africa.  Testimony by Aubrey Hruby, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, contained a section beginning on page 7 titled "How US Investment in 5G and Telecoms Can Help Bridge the Digital Divide on the Continent."  

This section of testimony summarizes China's digital engagement in Africa and suggests ways that US companies can still compete in an area where Chinese companies have the lead.