China,the most populous country and a significant player in the developing world,has actively engaged in South-South cooperation,contributing immensely to the shared growth of developing nations.Particularly over the past few years,partnerships between China and Africa have flourished,facilitated through frameworks like the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).These collaborations have not only solidified the foundations of cooperation but have also embraced emerging technologies and industrial transformations,emphasizing the role of science and technology in enhancing cooperative efforts.This synergy has proven invaluable,not only addressing the development gaps in Africa but also injecting new vigor into the global pursuit of sustainable development.

However,the journey towards modernization is fraught with challenges,especially for developing countries that start from a comparatively lower baseline.The obstacles are manifold,with inadequate infrastructure and limited human resources being the most pressing issues hampering economic growth in Africa.The Belt and Road Initiative has positioned China as a pivotal player in infrastructure development,especially regarding railways,highways,electricity,telecommunications,ports,regional aviation,and water resource management in Africa.These investments have significantly improved living conditions for the local populations and have fostered a more attractive environment for foreign investments.Consequently,Africa has recently emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing economic regions,attracting participation not only from other developing nations but also from advanced economies looking to penetrate African markets.

To quantify this emerging reality,the 2024 report from the Global Unicorn Enterprise Index highlights the rise of African unicorns,with six enterprises valued collectively at around $19.5 billion.For example,Seychelles and Nigeria each host two of these unicorns,while Egypt and Senegal each have one.This phenomenon indicates a noteworthy shift in the global industrial chain,signaling that the efforts to remediate developmental shortcomings are effectively yielding results.The collaborative endeavors in infrastructure improvement,entrepreneurship support,and investment attraction between China and Africa are ushering in tangible transformations across the continent.

Energy accessibility and transformation represent significant challenges facing Africa today.The partnership between China and Africa aims to remedy the long-standing energy shortages that the continent has grappled with,ensuring that energy resources are both usable and affordable for the populations affected.This commitment to energy collaboration is evolving towards a clean and low-carbon future.With considerable progress made in sharing renewable energy technologies,China plays an influential role in reducing energy development and operational costs across Africa.The past decade has seen significant cost reductions in renewable energy,with wind and solar energy production costs plummeting by over 60% and 80%,respectively.These improvements are largely attributable to China’s ongoing innovations and manufacturing prowess.Engaging in Africa’s development plans,China has contributed to over a hundred clean energy and sustainable development projects,including notable initiatives like the 233-megawatt solar power station in Algeria and the Adama wind farm in Ethiopia,setting precedents in energy transformation across the continent.

Moreover,the synergy between renewable energy cooperation and green development has been remarkable.Under the impetus of renewable energy initiatives,industries in Africa pertaining to renewable energy,electric vehicles,power grids,and energy storage have made considerable headway.By 2024,clean energy investments are projected to nearly double compared to 2020.A prime example is the Kom Ombo Abydos solar project in Egypt,which has emerged as Africa's largest single solar energy initiative,constructed by a consortium led by JA Solar Technology and several Chinese state-owned enterprises.Moreover,the Chinese company Tianci Materials recently announced an investment of approximately 20 billion RMB to set up a subsidiary in Morocco to produce and sell lithium-ion battery materials,highlighting the growing market potential in Africa.

The transformative impact of new technologies extends from digitizing industries to bringing traditional sectors into the modern era.In agriculture,for example,to bolster modernization efforts and enhance resilience against natural disasters,the China-Africa Satellite Remote Sensing Application Cooperation Center was inaugurated in July 2023 in Beijing.This initiative has led to the signing of memoranda of understanding with 13 African nations to leverage satellite data,providing nearly 40,000 high-resolution images from Chinese satellites to 23 African countries,along with various training programs to boost their satellite application capabilities.Furthermore,in May of this year,Egypt launched a data and cloud computing center,collaboratively developed by State Power Investment Corporation of China and Huawei.This facility is the first of its kind in North Africa,designed to analyze and process big data through AI,furthering the development of a related industrial chain.

As of July 2024,China and Africa jointly published the "Action Plan for China-Africa Digital Cooperation Development," establishing a comprehensive framework for advancing cooperation in digital infrastructure and capacity building.This initiative emphasizes a commitment to fortifying cooperative ties and facilitating industrial connections moving forward.However,it is essential to acknowledge that new technology industries inherently require substantial investment in technology,financing,and infrastructure.The transition to large-scale new tech industries necessitates favorable policies and market conditions and is closely tied to industrial cycles.

In recent years,collaborative efforts on new energy and digital industries have predominantly centered around countries like South Africa and Egypt,where industrialization levels are higher.This trend underscores the fact that many regions in Africa have not yet achieved the foundational production environments seen in the first industrial revolution.The future trajectory of Sino-African collaboration must not only address the immediate and long-term developmental challenges faced by Africa but also instill confidence in its prospective growth.As the global landscape for cooperating with Africa evolves,there is an urgent need for innovative approaches in South-South cooperation,particularly in aligning with the Belt and Road Initiative to foster mutual development.