Deeper global cooperation needed on digital innovation

In the remaking of the post-COVID-19 world order, digital economic operations and online consumption will be the pacesetters in jump-starting the world economy, after a devastating decline in global profit margins emanating from containment measures adopted by many countries to curb the pandemic's spread.

The closure of international and regional borders affected not only the traditional ways of doing business, but also how civilizations interacted with one another.

Thus, in recalibrating the way of doing business, and to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and adapt to the "new normal", the global community needs to fully use the gains of digital innovation, accelerate the transformation of national digital governance, and build up a community with a shared future in cyberspace.

It is in this regard that the Cyberspace Administration of China organized a high-level digital dialogue on August 24 with the theme "pursuing common development and security, jointly building a community with a shared future in cyberspace".

As a precursor, the foundation of promoting sustainable digital development has already been laid by both China and Africa. On March 1, 2017, Beijing released the International Strategy of Cooperation on Cyberspace, described as "a comprehensive explanation of China's policy and position on cyber-related international affairs". In 2014, the African Union held the Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection to help African states better address cybercrime, data protection, e-commerce and cybersecurity.

Establishing the principles of international exchanges and cooperation in cyberspace, the International Strategy of Cooperation on Cyberspace strategy aims to promote shared governance, shared benefits, sovereignty and peace. In line with securing international cyberspace, the ISCC also established six strategic goals: protecting the legitimate rights and interests of citizens; building platforms for cyber-culture exchange; safeguarding sovereignty and security; promoting fair internet governance; developing a system of international rules; and promoting cooperation on the digital economy.

As a promoter of sustainable development, China also plans to share its digital technologies with Africa to promote digital infrastructure connectivity－construction of transnational fiber-optic highways and promotion of e-commerce and smart cities. It also plans to support Africa in raising the level of digitization in the public and corporate sectors and promote industrialization by applying new technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, the internet of things and mobile payment. This can be achieved through a partnership with the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa.

Cyberspace has become the new frontier of advancing people-to-people exchanges, a key platform for information dissemination, a new space for advancing social justice and governance, and a bridge for global communication and cooperation.

Thus, to strategically position Africa and China as consumers and beneficiaries of the digital space, the two civilizations need to work together and develop synergy policies that will lead to a peaceful cyberspace.

First, there is a need for data security and the protection of personal information. As both civilizations strive to build a community of a shared future, laws on personal information protection need to be strengthened to curb the rising cases of cyber intruders attacking unsuspecting internet consumers.

Second, we live in an interconnected world, so China and Africa need to strengthen trans-border data flow laws to avoid cyberattacks that may lead to interference with the sovereignty of other countries, resulting in mistrust and conflict.

Third, there is a need to promote cybersecurity education. More African countries under the leadership of Smart Africa－an alliance that describes itself as "a bold and innovative commitment from African heads of state and government to accelerate sustainable socioeconomic development on the continent"-can partner with China to build more cybersecurity academies.

Finally, China and Africa need to work together to achieve digital justice.

At the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit in Senegal, issues related to digital innovation should not be a footnote but rather a key agenda in driving e-commerce and e-learning, and an enabler in the poverty alleviation process in Africa. By doing so, Africa will be able to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that can be driven by digital innovation. Specifically, these are SDG 3, good health and well-being; SDG 4, quality education; SDG 7, affordable and clean energy; SDG 9, industry, innovation and infrastructure; and SDG 11, sustainable cities and communities.

The author is executive director of the China-Africa Center at the Kenya-based Africa Policy Institute.