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.

China-Africa Relations Will Focus on Digital Silk Road

 Memesita, an independent digital news organization based in New York, posted on 1 February 2026 an article titled "China-Africa Relations: Trade, Investment & the Global South (2026)."

The China-Africa relationship in 2026 will not be about concrete and steel but rather silicon and signals.  A revolution is underway driven by digital infrastructure, fintech innovation, and a burgeoning tech ecosystem that is rapidly reshaping the economic and political landscape of the Global South.

Future of the China-Africa Relationship

 The Africa-China Centre for Policy & Advisory, an Accra-based think tank, published in January 2026 a paper titled "Why People Matter: Reimagining the Future of Africa-China Cooperation" by Paul Frimpong.

The Africa-China connection needs to shift from a primarily state-to-state model toward a society-to-society approach.  Governments remain essential, but durable cooperation is built when universities, collaborate, journalists exchange perspectives, businesses form partnerships, and communities interact directly.

A second shift is from delivery-focused engagement to experience and impact-focused cooperation.  Success should be measured not only by outputs--kilometers of road or megawatts of power--but by outcomes such as skills development, technology absorption, and local enterprise growth.

The third shift is from delivery exposure to mutual learning.  People-to-people exchanges are most effective when they are reciprocal, allowing Africans and Chinese alike to learn, adapt, and innovate together.  This mutuality strengthens trust and reinforces the principle of partnership.

Nigeria Foresees Closer Ties with China in 2026

 Nigeria's Punch published on 1 January 2026 an article titled "Nigeria Eyes Deeper China Ties Entering 2026" by Justice Okamgba.

China's ties with Nigeria strengthened in 2025 and are expected to improve even more in 2026 as Nigeria looks for closer economic cooperation.

The Plusses and Minuses of Chinese Infrastructure Projects in Africa

 Polity published on 28 November 2025 a commentary titled "China's Infrastructure Partnerships in Africa Require Strategising Developmental Needs over Debt Risks and Security Vulnerabilities."

Chinese state banks and companies have financed numerous interest-bearing loans for African infrastructure projects.  While much African infrastructure has been developed in this way, dependence on Chinese suppliers and management poses potential risks for African nations, especially concerning control over port and telecommunication systems.

China's Vocational Training Program in Africa

 Capital Ethiopia published on 19 August 2025 an article titled "China-Africa Partnership Strengthens Vocational Training to Boost Africa's Workforce" by Eyasu Aklilu.   

China has established 17 Luban workshops (vocational training centers) in 15 African countries with plans to establish 10 more.  China hosted last month a seminar in Ethiopia highlighting the Luban workshop program.  

Implications of US-China Trade War for Africa

 The China Global South Project published on 23 April 2025 an analysis titled "Lessons for Africa from the U.S.-China Trade Conflict: Diversify or Be Disrupted" by Pamela Carslake, Afro-Sino Center for International Relations in Accra.

The US-China trade war underscores the urgency for African countries to diversify their trade relationships and invest in building resilient manufacturing sectors. 

China-Africa Cooperation in Critical Minerals

 Development Reimagined published in November 2024 a study titled "Africa-China Cooperation in Critical Minerals: Centering Africa's Development in a Global Race."

Critical minerals account for almost 20 percent of Africa's total exports and contribute 28 percent of its GDP.  By 2022, critical minerals represented about 24 percent of China's total FDI stock in Africa.  Chinese mining companies account for 8 percent of Africa's total mining output and China ranks 5th in terms of mine ownership.  China has substantial stakes in Africa's lithium, copper, and cobalt mining projects--key minerals for EV batteries.  

It is essential that Africa develops strategies to protect and maximize the benefits from its critical minerals.  Despite the significant role mining plays in Africa-China relations, Development Reimagined says China should specify and enhance its commitments to the minerals sector to include geoscience and geology cooperation, research and development in mining technologies, human resource training, infrastructure development, value addition, and supply chain upgrading.  

The Plusses and Minuses of the Chinese-built Railway in Kenya

 Public Seminar posted on 18 March 2024 a commentary titled "The New Silk Road: China's Belt and Road Initiative Provokes Divided Narratives in Kenya" by Keren Zhu, The New School.

The Chinese-funded and built standard gauge railway in Kenya has provoked a heated debate between proponents of the project's economic benefits and those concerned with its socio-environmental risks.  The author concludes that while the railway was a success for many stakeholders, its long-term effect on Kenya is highly uncertain.

Comment:  The article indicates that the railway is an example of China's investment abroad.  In fact, it is an example of Kenya's investment in itself because Nairobi must pay the Chinese companies for building the project.  

Status of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway

 The Diplomat published on 14 February 2024 a report titled "The China-Built Addis-Djibouti Railway Gains Steam" by Istvan Tarrosy and Zoltan Voros, both at University of Pecs.  

The Ethiopia-Djibouti railway opened in 2018 and was largely operated by Chinese nationals.  It is now operated by the Ethio-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway Share Company.  It still employs about 80 Chinese who provide technical assistance.  Several trunk lines were not built for lack of funding and the trains run at less than half their planed speed because of unreliable electrical power and several security problems.  While freight traffic is growing, it remains far below projected levels.  

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.  

Cheap Chinese Imports May Undermine African Manufacturing

 The Conversation published on 11 January 2023 an analysis titled "Chinese Imports Could Undermine Ethiopian Manufacturing--Leaving Women Workers Worst Off" by Sylvanus Kwaku Afesorgbor, Ruby Acquah, and Yohannes Ayele.  

Cheap Chinese imports have the effect of undermining African manufacturing.  They also have significant impact on the African labor force, especially women.  Manufacturing as a share of GDP in Sub Saharan Africa declined from 17 percent in 1995 to 12 percent in 2021.  On the other hand, cheap imports from China have the potential to generate jobs in wholesale and retail trade.  The authors conclude that African states must ensure that Chinese manufacturing investment in Africa transfer skills to local companies.  

China-Ghana Relations from an Indian Perspective

 The Atlantic Council published on 16 December 2022 a study titled "Global China in Africa: Documenting Indian Perspectives from Ghana" by Veda Vaidyanathan and Arhin Acheampong.

The study looks first at China in Africa and India in Africa before comparing the economic engagement of the two countries in Ghana.  

Eritrea-China Medical Cooperation

 Eritrea's Ministry of Information posted on 14 December 2022 a statement titled "Eritrea-China Medical Cooperation: A Quarter Century of Progress" by Fikrejesus Amahazion.

The article commemorates 25 years of Chinese medical teams assigned to Eritrea.  Since 1997, fifteen Chinese medical teams, comprising well over 200 doctors and health professionals, have worked in Eritrea.

What China Learns from African Managerial Practices

 The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace published in October 2022 a study entitled "What China Is Learning from West African Managerial Practices" by Abdoulkadre Ado, University of Ottawa.

Investing in African joint ventures has enabled Chinese cultural adaptation by emphasizing training programs in languages commonly spoken in Africa, embracing local management styles, and assimilating some local practices.

African governments, businesses, and corporate managers should explore further ways to incentivize Chinese government decisionmakers and Chinese businesses to use joint ventures more often as the vehicle for their investments in Africa.  They should also encourage Chinese organizations to embrace the use of local languages, especially for conducting business, and to train more Chinese to use African managerial philosophies that have proven to respect local values while being effective in African markets. 

Confusing Numbers on China's FDI to Africa

 SupChina published on 15 April 2022 an analysis titled "How Private Chinese Companies Are Winning in Africa" by Anzetse Were.

The article draws heavily on the Ernst and Young Attractiveness Report for Africa in 2021.  It also highlights the confusion in the amount of Chinese FDI in Africa.  In recent years, China may well be the largest single bilateral source of FDI in Africa, but not at the levels cited by Ernst and Young (EY) data.  

Comment:  According to this article, using EY data, at $70.6 billion China was by far the largest source of FDI to Africa during the five-year period 2016-2020.  The second largest was the UAE at $23.8 billion and third largest the United States at $23.7 billion.  But the government of China announced that as of 2019 FDI stock in Africa TOTALED only $49 billion.  The China-Africa Research Initiative website shows that Chinese flows to Africa for the same five-year period totaled about $19 billion, well under the $70.6 billion number.  The EY figures for the US and UAE also appear to be excessively high.  

China's Huawei Delivers Mixed Results in North Africa

 The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace published in April 2022 a study titled "How Huawei's Localization in North Africa Delivered Mixed Returns" by Tin Hinane El Kadi.

The digital space is a notable aspect of China-North Africa relations.  Huawei's strategies in Algeria and Egypt show that, far from imposing a one-size-fits-all blueprint on other countries, Chinese technical specialists adapt their engagement to local development agendas.  Accommodating local development priorities is central to Huawei's success in globalizing its business ventures.  However, in both Algeria and Egypt Huawei improved its brand image without engaging in meaningful capacity building.  It managed to localize seemingly developmental activities in North Africa without contributing much to technological upgrading.  

Africa and China's Digital Silk Road

 Rest of the World published on 1 December 2021 a commentary titled "The Real Reason China Is Pushing 'Digital Sovereignty' in Africa" by Yinka Adegoke.

This commentary looks at the deepening tech-telecoms relationship between China and nearly every African country and what it portends for the future of the continent.  It concludes that China wants to use IT expansion in Africa as part of its effort to establish next generation technology standards.

China-Zambia Agricultural Relations

 The Institute of Chinese Studies in Delhi published in 2021 a study titled "China-Zambia Economic Relations: Perspectives from the Agricultural Sector" edited by Veda Vaidyanathan.  

It contains the following chapters:

--Bilateral Trade Relations between China and Zambia over 2000-2018 by Caesar Cheelo.

--Chinese Investments in Zambia from 2000-2018: A Sectoral Analysis by Veda Vaidyanathan and Mukundi Aganwal.

--Enhancing Zambia's Human Capacity? The Dynamics of China-Zambia Agriculture Skills and Knowledge Transfer by Musadabwe Chulu, Nkumbu Nalwimba, and George T. Mudimu. 

--Artificial Intelligence in Zambian Agriculture: Case Study of a Chinese Firm 'XAG' by Muyobozi Sikalubya.

--Diversity in China-Zambia Agricultural Co-operation: Case Studies of the Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center, Zhongken Farms and Zhongyang Eco-Agriculture Park by Tong Wu and Veda Vaidyanathan.

--Perspectives from the Grassroots by Veda Vaidyanathan.

Chinese Investment and Africa's Economic Transformation

Independent thank tank ODI published in June 2020 a study titled "Africa's Economic Transformation: The Role of Chinese Investment" by Linda Calabrese, ODI, and Xiaoyang Tang, Tsinghua University. 

The study addresses China-Africa development relations and their impact on African economies and livelihoods.  It reaches almost entirely positive conclusions. For example, it concludes that Chinese firms investing in Africa contribute to substantial job creation for African workers.  Chinese companies build the skills of host countries' workers.  Chinese investment tends to contribute to increased economic growth.  Chinese financing can contribute to unblocking the bottleneck to economic growth.  Trade has a mixed effect, but even here the effort is to emphasize the positive.