Huang Yupei

is a lecturer at China-africa International Business School, Zhejiang Normal

University.

1 For explanation of the connotation, extension, dimensions and characteristics of the concept of Digital Silk Road, please refer to China Electronic Information Industry Development Institute, Digital Silk Road: The Opportunities and Challenges to Develop Digital Economy along the Belt and Road, Posts and Telecom Press, 2017, pp.20-26.

2 At present, there is no authoritative definition of digital economy. Besides its breadth in terms of connotation and extension, the digital economy itself is developing and changing rapidly, which makes the description and interpretation of it subject to change over time. In this article, the concept of digital economy is applied in a broad and dynamic sense, is defined as an economic form where information technology plays a leading role or constitutes a core element. It includes both the information technology industry and the application of information technology in various industries. Various relevant products, new models, new businesses, new industries, and supporting policies, capital and talent environment are also incorporated.

3 “Forum on China-africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2019-2021),” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, September 5, 2018, https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1593683. shtml.

4 International Telecommunication Union, ICTS, LDCS and the SDGS: Achieving Universal and Affordable Internet in the Least Developed Countries, January 2018, https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-d/opb/ldc/dldc-ictldc-2018-sum-pdf-e.pdf.

5 James Manyika, et al., Lions Go Digital: The Internet’s Transformative Potential in Africa, Mckinsey Global Institute, November 2013, p.1, https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/industries/high%20 tech/our%20insights/lions%20go%20digital%20the%20internets%20transformative%20potential%20 in%20africa/mgi_lions_go_digital_full_report_nov2013.ashx.

6 Global System of Mobile Communication, “The Mobile Economy Sub-saharan Africa 2018,” p.3, https://www.gsmaintelligence.com/research/?file=809c442550e5487f3b1d025fdc70e23b&download. 7 “The ‘Amazon of Africa’ Soars More Than 75% on Its First Day of Trading,” CNBC, April 12, 2019, https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/12/the-amazon-of-africa-soars-nearly-60percent-on-its-first-day-of-trading. html.

8 Thomas Mcgath, “M-PESA: How Kenya Revolutionized Mobile Payments,” N26, April 9, 2018, https://mag.n26.com/m-pesa-how-kenya-revolutionized-mobile-payments-56786bc09ef.

9 “Mobile Money Transfer Revenues to Reach USD 4 Bln by 2018,” IT News Africa, June 25, 2015, https://www.itnewsafrica.com/2015/06/mobile-money-transfer-revenues-to-reach-usd-4-bln-by-2018. 10 Africa’s Pulse: An Analysis of Issues Shaping Africa’s Economic Future, World Bank, April 2019, p.3, https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/31499.

11 “Working Together to Deliver a Brighter Future for Belt and Road Cooperation: Keynote Speech by H.E. Xi Jinping at the Opening Ceremony of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation,” April 26, 2019, https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1658424.shtml.

12 “Full text of BRICS Summit Johannesburg Declaration,” Xinhua, July 27, 2018, http://www. xinhuanet.com/english/2018-07/27/c_129921358.htm.

13 Ibid.

14 “World Economic Forum on Africa Calls on Africa to Seize the Opportunity of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” Xinhua, May 13, 2016, http://www.xinhuanet.com//world/2016-05/13/c_1118861312.htm. 15 “Kenya Launches Digital Economy Blueprint for Africa at Transform Africa Summit,” Xinhua, May 15, 2019, http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-05/15/c_138061334.htm.

16 Wang Xuejun, “African Development and China-africa Joint Efforts on the Belt and Road Initiative,” China International Studies, No.3, 2019, p.28.

17 African Union, Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, September 2015, p.5, https://au.int/sites/default/ files/documents/36204-doc-agenda2063_popular_version_en.pdf.

18 “Flagship Projects of Agenda 2063,” African Union, September 2015, https://au.int/en/agenda2063/ flagship-projects.

19 “Sub-forum on Digital Silk Road of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation Held in Beijing,” Xinhua Silk Road, April 25, 2019, https://www.imsilkroad.com/news/p/363657.html.

20 “Working Together to Deliver a Brighter Future for Belt and Road Cooperation: Keynote Speech by H.E. Xi Jinping at the Opening Ceremony of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.”

21 “Digital Silk Road Helping Developing Countries,” China Daily, April 27, 2019, http://www. chinadaily.com.cn/a/201904/27/ws5cc3a6e7a3104842260b8add.html.

22 The BRI Big Data Center of the State Information Center, Belt and Road Big Data Report (2018), Commercial Press, 2018, p.107-108.

23 Joan Muller, “SA Consumers Swarm Online but Still Lag Way behind International Trends,” Business Day, November 25, 2018, https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/companies/retail-and-consumer/2018-1125-sa-consumers-swarm-online-as-tech-enabled-shopping-makes-strides.

24 Fang Fang, “Constructing the Digital Silk Road: Dynamics, Challenges and Approaches,” International Forum, No.2, 2019, p.72

25 Ali Research, Construction of the Digital Silk Road in the 21st Century: Practice of Alibaba, April 2019, p.30, https://i.aliresearch.com/img/20190423/20190423121119.pdf. 26 Secretariat of the Organizing Committee of the First China-africa Economic and Trade Expo, Collection of Cases on China-africa Economic and Trade Cooperation: Cross-border Digital Trade + Shared Overseas Warehouse, Hunan People’s Publishing House, June 2019, pp.108-109.

27 “Take a Look at Huawei’s ICT Innovation and Experience Center in South Africa,” Xinhua, August 11, 2017, http://www.xinhuanet.com//photo/2017-08/11/c_1121470823.htm.

28 “Building the Digital Silk Road: ZTE’S Role in Modernization of African Countries,” People.com.cn, December 8, 2015, http://world.people.com.cn/n/2015/1208/c1002-27901916.html.

29 Ali Research, Construction of the Digital Silk Road in the 21st Century: Practice of Alibaba, p.19.

30 Ali Research, Construction of the Digital Silk Road in the 21st Century: Practice of Alibaba, p.27. 31 “Huawei Trains Over 30,000 Communications Technicians in Africa,” Economic Daily, December 6, 2015, p.2.

32 United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Economic Report on Africa 2019: Fiscal Policy for Financing Sustainable Development in Africa, 2019, p.70, https://www.uneca.org/sites/default/files/ Publicationfiles/era2019-en-final-30apr-web.pdf.