■ song Weisu tianqi
Covid-19 pneumonia poses a great challenge to the economic development of all countries, especially to Africa, the continent with the largest concentration of developing countries. The economic losses caused by the epidemic on the African continent are as high as US $99 billion, facing the first economic recession in 25 years. As the momentum of economic development is blocked by the epidemic, Africa is likely to become the continent that will recover from the epidemic at the latest. In the post epidemic era, Africa must find a new engine if it wants to quickly restore economic development. As a new economic form, digital economy plays an important role in the development and structural reconstruction of the global economy. For Africa, seizing the development opportunity of digital economy is expected to realize economic transformation and development. To this end, China Africa cooperation will continue to expand in breadth and depth. China will gradually become an important force to promote Africa’s digital transformation, which will also be the focus of the future “Hongqiao International Economic Forum”. To strengthen China Africa digital cooperation, it is suggested to start from the following three aspects.
First, strengthen China Africa cooperation and strategic communication. As the China Africa Cooperation Forum enters the new 20 years, China and Africa should seize the opportunity to jointly build the “digital silk road”, improve the scale of the digital economy and promote the all-round development of China Africa digital economic cooperation. The Chinese and African governments can form a top-level design under the strategic framework of the China Africa Cooperation forum to lay out China Africa digital economic cooperation. For example, they can hold the China Africa Digital Economy Summit Forum, exchange with high-end talents in African enterprises and scientific research institutions, coordinate policies in areas of mutual concern, and provide advice for China Africa digital economic cooperation. At the same time, the main body of China Africa digital cooperation should not be confined to the government, but should promote Chinese and African enterprises, scientific research institutions and social organizations to seize the digital opportunities in Africa, actively participate in African digital projects, promote the docking of China Africa projects and share digital dividends.
Second, improve and strengthen the construction of digital infrastructure. Infrastructure plays an irreplaceable role in the development of digital economy, but the digital infrastructure of most African countries is relatively backward and the overall development level is not high. In the future, the Chinese government should increase its assistance to Africa’s digital infrastructure and jointly support Africa’s construction of large infrastructure such as optical fiber, base station and cross regional communication network by expanding mixed development financing and tripartite development financing. At the same time, China has a great interest in the development of digital economy and the Internet of things in Africa. At the same time, China’s extensive assistance in the development of digital economy and the Internet of things can help many African countries to solve the serious problems of digital economy through cloud technology and sharing.
Third, strengthen cooperation in talent training and education. Compared with the traditional economy, the digital economy has higher technical content and higher requirements for relevant employees, and the support of high-tech talents is a solid foundation for the development of China Africa digital economy. To this end, China should help African countries establish and improve the construction of disciplines related to digital economy, build a talent training mechanism for digital economy, and jointly train professional and technical talents. At the same time, with the help of the established channels of people to people and cultural exchanges between China and Africa, such as the “excellent scholarship program for studying in China” established by the Ministry of foreign affairs and the Ministry of education, outstanding African youth can be selected to study digital economy related knowledge in China, participate in training and exchange activities organized by scientific research institutions, universities, major enterprises and social organizations, and improve the digital skills of African people. In addition, in view of the current severe epidemic situation, we can adopt the combination of Wuxi Online Offline Communication Information Technology Co.Ltd(300959) and to provide skill training for relevant practitioners and cultivate a number of high-tech talents urgently needed by African countries.
The global spread of covid-19 epidemic highlights the importance of digital economy. The development of digital economy is of great significance for promoting poverty reduction, realizing economic development transformation and even participating in globalization in Africa. It has become a new path for the contemporary information society to build a community with a shared future and a community of interests in China and Africa. Looking ahead, I believe that with the further release of Africa’s economic development potential, China Africa digital economic cooperation will also usher in new development opportunities, and China Africa digital economic cooperation will have great prospects.
(the author is the executive deputy director and researcher of Hongqiao International Economic Forum Research Center, Research Institute of the Ministry of Commerce; and a master’s candidate of the Department of foreign affairs, School of Foreign Affairs)
