In many fields, China's technological advances, particularly in biotechnology, digital communications and artificial intelligence, have made a major contribution to Africa's development and modernization.
By Xinhua Writers Zhou Haojin, Liang Ziqi and Zhang Yujie
China, Changsha, June 17 (Xinhua) – A small booth featuring perennial rice technology developed by a Chinese company attracted a large crowd.
The above scene at the fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) recently concluded in Changsha, the capital of central China, was just one example of Chinese experts passing expertise and experience to their African counterparts.
China's technological advances in various fields, particularly biotechnology, digital communications and artificial intelligence, have made a major contribution to Africa's development and modernization.
Perennial rice
One of the results of the Beijing Summit (FOCAC) of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, the China-Africa Cooperation Center was created to promote agricultural development in Africa and improve the livelihoods of African people.
Unlike traditional rice, which must be sown each year, perennial rice can be harvested several times after one planting. Currently, perennial rice cultivation has been successfully introduced in several African countries, including Burundi, Uganda, Madagascar and Mozambique.
In early 2024, the technology team of the BGI Group in China established a demonstration base for perennial rice planting in Karj, Burundi. A few months later, the first season of rice was harvested last June, with the average yield per acre doubled the average yield of local rice. Furthermore, perennial rice is regenerated, thus significantly improving the agricultural efficiency of local farmers.
BGI Group expert Zhang Qiang said that planting perennial rice can significantly reduce production costs caused by sowing and seedling growth, allowing local farmers to devote more time and energy to other production and operational activities. Perennial rice can effectively reduce land cultivation, protect soil structure, reduce the risk of soil erosion, and promote sustainable agricultural development.
Digital conversion
As part of the Madagascan government's “Madagascar Emergency Plan” (PEM), the construction of communications infrastructure is being given priority. Chinese companies are taking part in the project under the plan, making a significant contribution to improving the country's communications facilities, particularly network coverage in remote areas.
At the end of 2024, China's Genertec International Holding Co., Ltd. The EPC project for the Menabe Rural Network in Madagascar, which was carried out by the EPC project, has officially begun. The first phase of the project includes the construction of 73 sites, with an estimated network coverage of 2,340 square km. According to project manager Gao Bo, once completed, isolated villages will have access to telephone communications.
Meanwhile, Chinese companies have begun construction of a rural communications network in Tanzania this year. According to Project Manager You Chenyi, Tanzania has abundant sunlight, so solar energy is used as a source of networks, which significantly reduces costs.
“Africa Pass”
In the process of economic and trade cooperation and exchange between China and Africa, there is a great demand for intelligent translation devices, especially those with translation capabilities in their native African languages.
Wang Zhan, executive director of the Global South Institute of Tianjin University in China, said Chinese companies face multiple challenges in Africa when it comes to language barriers. First, inadequate detailed communication can lead to delayed approval of the project and increased upfront costs. Second, implementation of work orders by Chinese staff, such as production plans and technical specifications, is usually dependent on the English proficiency of local employees, leading to a deviation in implementation and ultimately leads to economic losses.
In this regard, China's Hunan Chuanshen Technology Co., Ltd. launched the “Africa Pass” portable translation device based on independently developed language models of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation and linguistic resources of 53 African countries. The device can translate 144 languages and provide relatively accurate translation services for exchange and cooperation between Chinese and African businesses in infrastructure, agriculture and other areas.
The “African Pass” was exhibited at the Chansha Expo, transforming Chinese voice input into a voice in Swahili, a language commonly used in East Africa. Pamela Nguji, an associate professor at Kenyatta University in Kenya, was amazed at the efficiency of the device.
“This is certainly very useful,” she told Xinhua. “Language translation is extremely important in the communication process. It helps people understand each other quickly.” enditem
(Wang Ziyan also contributed to the story.) ■
