China-Africa digital partnership powers growth

When Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made his first overseas tour of 2026 with visits to Ethiopia, Tanzania and Lesotho from Jan 7 to 12, he was not merely continuing a 36-year diplomatic tradition but reaffirming the importance that China places on engagement with Africa. The visit underscores a substantive agenda for deepening cooperation in areas critical to long-term development, including digital infrastructure, innovation capacity and inclusive growth.

The strategic partnership with China has already reshaped Africa's development trajectory. And nowhere is this more visible than in the rapid expansion of its digital economy. At the heart of this advancement lies a powerful partnership with China — one that combines advanced technology, financial support and deep policy engagement. By helping establish mobile payment systems and smart cities, China is paving the way for African countries to leapfrog traditional development barriers and build the digital infrastructure of the future.

Reliable digital infrastructure is the foundation of a thriving digital economy. In the past decade, Chinese companies have laid hundreds of thousands of kilometers of fiber-optic cables across Africa, built thousands of mobile towers, and helped establish regional data centers. According to the "2025 Blue Book of China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation", major Chinese-built data centers are now operating in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Egypt, powering services from mobile banking to e-governance.

China's support has extended to 5G rollout, with Huawei and ZTE partnering with African telecom operators to establish 5G networks in cities such as Johannesburg, Nairobi and Lagos. These networks have enabled real-time connectivity, e-learning, and telemedicine for millions of people. Most recently, a memorandum of understanding, signed between South Africa and China Satellite Network Group, aims to bring broadband connectivity to remote schools and businesses through satellite-based internet.

Africa leads the world in mobile money, accounting for more than 50 percent of the global mobile money accounts. African countries' domestic e-payment markets are projected to exceed $40 billion in revenues by 2026, growing at 20 percent a year, outpacing the global average of 7 percent.

Besides, Chinese fintech companies are playing a catalytic role. Strategic partnerships between Chinese enterprises and African telecom operators have facilitated secure, scalable mobile payment ecosystems tailored to informal economies. Applications such as M-Pesa, adopted by countries like Kenya and Tanzania, leverage Chinese technology to offer seamless digital financial services, including micro-loans and utility payments, which can be accessed through most basic mobile phones.

This transformation has significantly improved financial inclusion, allowing millions to bypass traditional banking systems and participate directly in the digital economy.

Moreover, urbanization is reshaping Africa's demographic landscape. By 2050, more than 50 percent of Africans are likely to live in cities. Chinese expertise in digital urban governance — developed based on the knowledge and know-how attained in megacities such as Shenzhen — is being adapted to African conditions.

Cities such as Addis Ababa, Kigali and Lusaka are collaborating with Chinese technology providers to develop smart traffic systems, AI-powered surveillance, waste management, and digital utilities billing. These efforts enhance not only efficiency but also build urban resilience and strengthen public safety.

In 2025, the "Africa Digital Empowerment and Innovation Hub" — co-launched by the United Nations Development Programme and the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology — began training thousands of African youths and officials in AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity and entrepreneurship. The goal is to cultivate a homegrown digital workforce that can promote innovation across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and logistics.

Beyond urban centers, China is investing in Africa's digital industrial parks, which now support thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in electronics assembly, digital manufacturing, and IT services. In this regard, financing from the Export-Import Bank of China has been pivotal in building these innovation zones and logistics platforms.

Besides, since 2023, China-supported digital enterprise hubs and related investments have created thousands of new jobs across eastern and western Africa, contributing significantly to local employment and skills development.

China's engagement with African countries is not just commercial; it is also institutional. Accordingly, collaboration efforts are underway to co-develop digital governance frameworks: data protection laws, e-commerce regulations, and central bank digital currency pilots. This helps African countries to build digital sovereignty, safeguard user privacy, and regulate emerging technologies in a way that reflects local needs and national priorities.

However, significant challenges persist. Problems such as digital literacy gaps, difficulty in accessing affordable devices, and vulnerable cybersecurity must be addressed. Yet their commitment to open standards, technology transfer and skills training will help China and Africa to navigate future digital disruptions with resilience.

Africa's digital transformation is no longer just an aspiration; it's happening now. With China as a key strategic partner, African countries are rapidly building infrastructure, institutions and talent pool essential for a sustainable and inclusive digital economy.

The Sino-African partnership demonstrates the strength of South-South cooperation in delivering not only connectivity, but capability. It is a story of co-creation, not dependency; of shared growth, not zero-sum rivalry. In a fragmented global digital landscape, Africa and China are advancing a new model of cooperation — one rooted in equity, access and long-term impact.

The author is a senior lecturer at Kent Business School, University of Kent, UK.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

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