China-Africa partnership drives integration push

China's growing leadership in renewable energy and digital technologies is converging with Africa's vast resource potential and rising demand, reshaping the continent's development pathway, policymakers and industry leaders say.

They called for scaling up integrated, results-driven partnerships that combine clean power, digital infrastructure and smart systems to accelerate industrialization and economic inclusion.

This shift toward an "energy-digital nexus" comes at a critical moment where about 600 million people across Africa still lack access to electricity, even as the continent's digital economy is projected to expand rapidly in the coming decades, they said.

Islam Swaleh, head of entrepreneurship and investment at the African Union Commission, said China's strengths in solar manufacturing, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies provide a strong foundation for cooperation with Africa.

"The greatest opportunity now lies in integrating energy and digital innovation," he said, pointing to solutions such as smart grids powered by renewable energy and pay-as-you-go solar systems enabled by mobile money.

Africa's development priorities — universal energy access and digital transformation — are closely aligned with the continent's Agenda 2063 blueprint, he said. Africa holds about 60 percent of the world's best solar resources, presenting a unique opportunity to leapfrog into a green energy future, he added.

"At the same time, Africa's digital economy is expanding rapidly and could reach $180 billion by 2025," he said, noting that mobile penetration is expected to exceed 80 percent in many countries.

Amany Asfour, president of the Africa Business Council, emphasized the importance of partnerships in unlocking shared prosperity, particularly through financial and digital inclusion.

"It is time that we explore together avenues for prosperity for both Africa and China," she said.

Lelise Neme, director-general of the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority, said the global transition to clean energy and the rapid expansion of the digital economy present strategic opportunities for both regions.

"Africa is endowed with extraordinary renewable resources," she said, highlighting Ethiopia's focus on green development and the importance of aligning investments with environmental sustainability, local capacity-building and long-term resilience.

Cooperation with China in solar power, battery storage, electric mobility and smart grids could help accelerate this transition, provided that projects are guided by principles of mutual benefit, trust and sustainable development, she said.

Industrial platforms

Beyond policy discussions, business leaders also pointed to emerging industrial platforms that could anchor this cooperation.

Motuma Temesgen, CEO of the Gada Special Economic Zone in Ethiopia, said Africa must move toward energy independence by reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels and building local manufacturing capacity in clean technologies.

The African Continental Free Trade Area provides an opportunity to develop regional value chains in green energy and digital technologies, with the aim of attracting investment in solar panel manufacturing, battery storage, green hydrogen and electric vehicles, he said.

"The true power lies in the synergy between new energy and the digital economy," he said, adding that renewable energy can power data centers while digital technologies optimize energy distribution and industrial systems.

sharon@chinadailyafrica.com