As China and Africa approach the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2026, technology-driven cooperation is becoming a growing part of bilateral relations.
From smart agriculture to digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) training, Chinese technologies and development experience are being applied across multiple African countries, with a focus on improving livelihoods and strengthening local capacity.
A farmer carries farming tools and a tarpaulin in rice fields on the outskirts of Bujumbura, Burundi, on May 8, 2025. (Photo: VCG)
At the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo 2025 in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, perennial rice technology attracted strong interest from African visitors. Unlike conventional rice that requires replanting every year, perennial rice can continue producing after one planting, helping reduce labor and farming costs.
The technology has already been introduced in Burundi, Uganda, Madagascar and Mozambique. In Burundi, a Chinese technical team established a demonstration base in 2024, where first-season yields reportedly doubled compared with some local varieties.
Agricultural cooperation has also expanded into desertification control and livestock development. In Mauritania, Chinese experts introduced juncao – literally meaning "fungi and grass" – and alfalfa varieties suited to sandy environments under a livestock technology project launched in 2017.
According to Chinese officials, China has also dispatched more than 200 agricultural experts to African countries including Madagascar, Eritrea and Burundi since the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Digital connectivity and AI training are emerging as new highlights of China-Africa cooperation. In Madagascar, a rural communications project launched by a Chinese company plans to build 73 base stations covering about 2,340 square kilometers and benefiting around 165,000 rural residents. The project is expected to improve access to mobile payments, e-commerce and communications services in remote areas.
In Kenya, the Luban Workshop jointly established by Chinese and local partners offers courses in cloud computing, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI). Students can obtain certifications in data communications and AI technologies, preparing them for jobs in the digital economy.
Chinese enterprises have also helped African countries build or upgrade 150,000 kilometers of communications backbone networks, according to a 2024 Chinese government report.
Infrastructure cooperation has increasingly emphasized skills transfer and long-term development. In Lesotho, a Chinese-built water transfer tunnel under the Lesotho Highlands Water Project has created around 1,800 local jobs, while hundreds of workers have received vocational training in construction and electrical engineering.
Tanzanian columnist George Mtui noted that China-Africa cooperation has helped narrow infrastructure gaps, train technical workers and support industrialization. He said the partnership increasingly focuses on technology transfer and local development capacity, which many African countries see as important for their modernization efforts.