South Africa and China Strengthen AI and Digital Collaboration for Enhanced Connectivity
South African Delegation Secures Promising Partnerships During China Visit
A high-level South African delegation, led by Minister Solly Malatsi, recently returned from an investment-focused visit to China, securing a series of promising partnerships that will significantly contribute to South Africa's digital transformation.
The key outcomes of the visit include a formal agreement to collaborate on artificial intelligence (AI) research, innovation, and application, particularly in critical sectors such as education, agriculture, and public service delivery. The delegation engaged with Chinese partners to support South Africa’s digital transformation through projects aimed at accelerating internet connectivity, enhancing digital skills, and promoting inclusive innovation across the country.
One of the most significant partnerships involves the China Satellite Network Company (CSNC), with whom discussions were held to explore a satellite broadband initiative aimed at improving last-mile internet connectivity in rural and underserved South African communities. This directly supports South Africa’s goal of closing the digital divide and enhancing access to education, healthcare, and public digital infrastructure.
The delegation also held financing discussions with the Export-Import Bank of China to seek increased development financing to expand broadband connectivity, especially in remote and disadvantaged areas.
In addition, the visit included meetings at the headquarters of leading Chinese technology companies such as Huawei and Honor, to advance campaigns focused on providing smart devices to learners and entrepreneurs in South Africa. These efforts reinforce South Africa's four ministerial digital priorities: expanding connectivity and device access, building digital skills, unlocking productive technology use, and creating an enabling environment for inclusion and investment.
Together, these outcomes and partnerships demonstrate a multi-faceted approach to deepening China-South Africa cooperation in AI and digital infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on inclusive innovation, financing, and connectivity projects to accelerate South Africa’s digital transformation agenda.
The engagements underscored South Africa's commitment to building international partnerships aligned with its national development priorities. The delegation participated in a roundtable hosted by the China Branch of the BRICS Institute of Future Networks, discussing collaboration on broadband expansion, smart device accessibility, and digital skills development.
The visit also included attendance at the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai, highlighting the rapid pace of AI transformation and the urgency for global collaboration on AI technologies.
The proposed Memorandum of Understanding involves cooperation on artificial intelligence, with the goal to ensure increased investment, shared expertise, and deepened digital cooperation, enabling all South Africans, particularly those in underserved communities, to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
The South African delegation comprised senior officials responsible for digital infrastructure, AI, cybersecurity, bilateral partnerships, and communications, ensuring a comprehensive approach to the negotiations. Engagements took place in Beijing, Shenzhen, and Shanghai, aimed at securing support for South Africa's digital transformation agenda.
In summary, the South African delegation's visit to China has set the stage for a series of exciting partnerships and collaborations that will significantly contribute to South Africa's digital transformation and AI development, with a strong focus on inclusive innovation, financing, and connectivity projects. These partnerships will help to close the digital divide, enhance access to education, healthcare, and digital public infrastructure, and ensure that all South Africans can participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
- The South African delegation, during their visit to China, secured a partnership with the China Satellite Network Company (CSNC) to improve last-mile internet connectivity in rural and underserved communities, which aligns with South Africa’s goal of closing the digital divide and enhancing access to education, healthcare, and public digital infrastructure.
- The key outcomes of the South African delegation's visit include a formal agreement for artificial intelligence (AI) collaboration with Chinese partners, aiming to extend AI research, innovation, and application in critical sectors, such as education, agriculture, and public service delivery.
- To expand broadband connectivity, especially in remote and disadvantaged areas, the delegation held financing discussions with the Export-Import Bank of China. This step is essential for the proposed satellite broadband initiative and overall digital transformation agenda of South Africa.
- The visit to China involved meetings with leading Chinese technology companies like Huawei and Honor to advance campaigns focused on providing smart devices to learners and entrepreneurs in South Africa. These efforts reinforce South Africa's digital priorities, emphasizing the need for expanding connectivity and device access, digital skills development, and creating an enabling environment for inclusion and investment.
