Opportunities for China and Africa to Build the Digital Silk Road

The Digital Silk Road is a grand design to promote the universal development of mankind in the era of the digital economy, which has become an indispensable part of the BRI. “We need to keep up with the trend of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, jointly seize opportunities created by digital, networked and smart development … and build the digital Silk Road and the Silk Road of innovation,” Chinese President Xi Jinping declared.11 At present, the China-africa joint endeavor on the Digital Silk Road provides new opportunities for African countries to integrate into the global industrial and value chain on an equal basis. Meanwhile, it creates suitable channels for China to share the dividends of digital transformation, bringing a unique historic opportunity for further China-africa cooperation.

Fourth Industrial Revolution is highly valued in Africa

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterized by big data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence, has opened up the path toward a new stage of information-based socio-economic development. The digital economy has gradually become a new engine of global economic growth. On the one hand, the Fourth Industrial Revolution may put pressure on conventional industries and aggravate imbalances in some of Africa’s antiquated economic sectors. On the other hand, it creates fresh opportunities for African countries to bridge the digital divide and achieve successful transformation. Leaders of African countries have generally recognized the need to seize the opportunity to promote inclusive growth and sustainable development. In July 2018, South Africa set the theme of the BRICS summit as “BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive

Growth and Shared Prosperity in the 4th Industrial Revolution.”12 Initiated by China, the summit later included the establishment of the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PARTNIR) in the Johannesburg Declaration, aiming to deepen member states’ cooperation in digitization, industrialization and informatization.13 When the World Economic Forum on Africa was held on May 11, 2016, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda urged African countries to seize the chance of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and avoid remaining in a role of follower when the future Fifth Industrial Revolution comes.14 At the fifth Transform Africa Summit themed “Promoting Africa’s Digital Economy,” Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta put forward the Digital Economy Blueprint for Africa, calling on African countries to utilize digital technologies to stimulate economic transformation and upgrade.15

BRI accords with Agenda 2063 in terms of digital economy

Agenda 2063, initiated by the African Union (AU), is a strategic framework on inclusive growth and sustainable development.16 It specifies an outlook of how to advance Africa’s information and communications technology (ICT) and digital economy, in order to integrate African countries into the global digital economy framework. The agenda aims to prompt African governments, commercial entities and individual enterprises to take advantage of secure and reliable ICT services.17 To further promote digital economic development, Agenda 2063 formulates specific action plans, among which the Pan-african E-network and Cyber Security are

flagship projects. These projects focus on the construction of broadband infrastructure and enhancement of cyber security, in an effort to boost Africa out of its current disadvantaged position as the commonly regarded “backland of digital development” on the globe.18

The BRI and Agenda 2063 share a wide range of common features in the field of the digital economy. By September 2018, China and 37 African countries had signed inter-governmental Memoranda of Understanding (MOUS) on the BRI. Moreover, China had launched the Initiative on Belt and Road Digital Economy Cooperation with Egypt and other countries. In April 2019, China hosted a sub-forum on the Digital Silk Road during the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, with a number of African countries actively participating and achieving critical outcomes. At the event, representatives from the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union shared Africa’s experience in digital economic development under the theme of “sharing policy experience and promoting mutual prosperity.”19

Chinese experience in digital economic development can be shared with African countries

The Chinese government adheres to the principle of “openness, innovation, inclusiveness and shared benefits” and pursues the philosophy of “teaching one to fish is better than giving him fish.” It has made great efforts to advance the China-africa joint endeavor on the Digital Silk Road. In contrast to the West, which rather stresses the commercial and enterpriseled side of development, China has been seeking a path that respects the national conditions and autonomy of African countries, which aims to construct universal industrial, service, supply and value chains, and open up new space for African countries to accelerate their development with greater

momentum. The Chinese approach was made clear in President Xi’s speech at the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, when he said, “We need to strengthen international development cooperation so as to create more opportunities for developing countries, help them eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development.”20

China’s internet and telecommunications development takes the leading position in the world today, while most African countries are still lagging behind. By sharing the dividends of digital transformation, China can improve African countries’ digitalization capabilities and help them get on the fast track in the digital economy field. African countries can offer favorable investment opportunities in fields such as fintech, e-commerce and smart travel, while China has accumulated successful experience in technological and business model innovation. China can give full play to its advantages in internet and digital economy industries to serve Africa’s needs. In the future, the two sides can further strengthen cooperation within the BRI framework and the Forum on China-africa Cooperation, aligning development strategies and deepening exchanges in all aspects of the digital economy. According to Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the digital economy is the highlight for future cooperation between Africa and China, and the African continent has a lot to learn from China to bridge its digital gap.21