China-Africa Joint Endeavor on the Digital Silk Road: Opportunities, Challenges and Approaches

Huang Yupei

The Digital Silk Road1For 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.is a product of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the digital economy. It is an inevitable outcome of the globalization of the digital economy, and at the same time it also injects impetus into the BRI.2At 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.Africa has great potential for development in the digital economy. As the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2019-2021) proposes, China and Africa will “share experience in the development of information communication, seize the opportunity presented by the digital economy, and encourage companies to carry out cooperation in ICT infrastructure, the internet and the digital economy.”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.Therefore, it is necessary to explore the opportunities and challenges for China and Africa in building the Digital Silk Road and formulate a roadmap for its steady advance.

Current Development of the Digital Economy in Africa

The digital economy not only grows rapidly in Europe, America and East Asia, but also extends to Africa. Especially with the gradual popularization of the internet, many forms of the digital economy are increasingly accepted by local governments and people in Africa. With the rapid growth of internet infrastructure in Africa and the spread of smartphones, more and more people can fully enjoy the benefits of the online world. There are a number of positive factors which have promoted the swift development of the digital economy in Africa.

First, the development of communication networks has shown initial results. Most African countries have achieved a basic coverage of their urban areas with 3G networks, with 4G networks covering some core areas. Statistics show that Africa has about 330 million internet users, accounting for 27% of the total population and 9.2% of global internet users. Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa are the top three countries in terms of the number of internet users, accounting for 69.6%, 51.1% and 49% of the total population respectively. Besides, sub-Saharan Africa is expected to achieve a 20-fold increase in the number of internet users.4International 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.As early as in November 2013, a report by the US-based consulting firm McKinsey stated that the number of internet users in Africa had reached 167 million in that year. With the continued improvement of internet infrastructure and the declining cost of internet access, the report concluded, Africa had entered the era of digital economy.5James 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.

Second, the development of the smartphone market is accelerating. Africa has the fastest growing smartphone market in the world. An increasing number of African citizens are using smartphones to access the internet, as affordable smartphones have become more widespread and the cost of internet access is falling. With the gradually increasing potential of the mobile communication market, relevant infrastructure has witnessed significant improvement, and the demand for mobile communication services among Africa's young population has been continuously growing. Africa has been widely recognized as one region with the most apparent growth of smartphone users in the world. As stated by the Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM), there had been 250 million smartphone users in sub-Saharan Africa by the end of 2017, about a third of the region's population.6Global System of Mobile Communication, “The Mobile Economy Sub-Saharan Africa 2018,” p.3, https://www.gsmaintelligence.com/research/?file=809c442550e5487f3b1d025fdc70e23b&download.

Third, e-commerce platforms are on the rise. With the rapid development of a global e-commerce system, Africa, as an emerging market, has considerable potential and huge user demand. At present, an increasing number of African suppliers and purchasers are abandoning the traditional way of face-to-face transactions, while the new mode of e-commerce transaction is quietly gaining more and more prevalence. At the national level, e-commerce develops rapidly in Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya and South Africa. Successful e-commerce platforms, such as Jumia, Souq, Kilimall and Takealot, were newly established about three to four years ago on average, while other local e-commerce platforms are still in the incubation stage. Africa's emerging e-commerce industry is already showing incredible potential. For example, Jumia, a popular Nigerian e-commerce platform operated in 14 African countries, debuted on the New York Stock Exchange on April 12, 2019 with a market value of $3.9 billion.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.

Fourth, the mobile payment market has been increasingly buoyant. The promotion of the internet at a global level has created a broad space for African countries to develop mobile banking and other financial services, consequently making mobile payment a new option of financial services in Africa. Represented by M-PESA, mobile payment is developing rapidly in Kenya, Tanzania and other East African countries. Statistics show that 1.7 billion payment transactions have been conducted via M-PESA by East African users between June 2016 and June 2017. In the same period, M-PESA's contribution to Kenya's GDP growth accounted for 48.76%.8Thomas McGath, “M-PESA: How Kenya Revolutionized Mobile Payments,” N26, April 9, 2018, https://mag.n26.com/m-pesa-how-kenya-revolutionized-mobile-payments-56786bc09ef.Meanwhile, Jumia Pay and Konga Pay are popular in Nigeria as options for online shopping payment. According to report by Comms MEA, Africa has become a new market of mobile payment, generating more than 10% of major African mobile operators' total revenue. Moreover, mobile transactions in Africa are expected to reach US$14.27 billion by 2020.9“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.

Despite the huge growth potential of the digital economy in Africa, its development also faces a myriad of substantial challenges. Since the overall internet penetration rate in Africa is still at a comparatively low level, only a group of urban residents have digital transaction accounts. Digital economic services such as mobile payment, online shopping and e-commerce have not yet reached the majority of the population.10Africa's Pulse: An Analysis of Issues Shaping Africa's Economic Future, World Bank, April 2019, p.3, https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/31499.At the same time, the digital economic development in Africa is confronted with the severe task of achieving good governance, since only a few African governments are strategically and systematically investing into digital infrastructure, services and skills. Therefore, financial technology start-ups are going through funding shortfalls, consumers are encountering internet fraud, while governments face a lack of qualified IT professionals. The digital development divide between Africa and the developed world, as well as between African and emerging economies, still remains stark. The same is true between various regions on the African continent.

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“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.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“Full text of BRICS Summit Johannesburg Declaration,” Xinhua, July 27, 2018, http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-07/27/c_129921358.htm.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.13Ibid.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“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, MayAt 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, 2019, http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-05/15/c_138061334.htm.

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.16Wang Xuejun, “African Development and China-Africa Joint Efforts on the Belt and Road Initiative,” China International Studies, No.3, 2019, p.28.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.17African 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.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“Flagship Projects of Agenda 2063,” African Union, September 2015, https://au.int/en/agenda2063/flagship-projects.

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“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.

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“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.”

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“Digital Silk Road Helping Developing Countries,” China Daily, April 27, 2019, http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201904/27/WS5cc3a6e7a3104842260b8add.html.

Challenges for China and Africa to Build the Digital Silk Road

Although the construction of the Digital Silk Road will inject strong impetus into the all-encompassing leapfrog development of the African continent and bring great opportunities for its socio-economic transformation, risks and challenges remain. African countries' backward digital infrastructure, underdeveloped security assurance of cyber credit, and the complex coordination system in the region's governance are just some of the many serious obstacles this endeavor is facing.

Backward digital infrastructure in Africa

The level of digital economic development in African countries is closely related to their level of industrialization, stage of economic development, and global industrial division of labor. Even in the 21st century, despite elevated international status, enhanced endogenous economic momentum, and increased foreign investment, Africa's overall industrial development level remains comparatively low. Besides, Africa's economic size accounts only for a small fraction of the world's total, and the contribution of the digital economy to Africa's development is very limited. At present, the digital economy in Africa is still in the early stage of development. Most African countries have relatively primitive digital infrastructure, a low coverage of intercontinental optical fiber, a poor submarine optical cable connection, an imperfect transnational and trans-regional communication network, limited coverage of broadband network services, and high access cost. In addition, the weak foundation of logistics and supply chains, the lack of mature e-commerce platforms, and the relatively sluggish development of power and other supporting facilities are also key factors that lead to the low degree of digital economic development in African countries.

The digital economic infrastructure on the African continent is characterized not only by a low level of overall development, but also by asynchronous development when the digital economies of different African countries are compared. In 2018, the BRI Big Data Center of China's State Information Center evaluated the Digital Silk Road Readiness Index of 71 countries along the Belt and Road, including South Africa (ranked 11), Egypt (16), Morocco (50), and Ethiopia (60).22The BRI Big Data Center of the State Information Center, Belt and Road Big Data Report (2018), Commercial Press, 2018, p.107-108.Other African countries are not even qualified to be shortlisted as their digital infrastructure development remains far behind. This reflects the regional imbalance and severe fragmentation of digital economic development in Africa, thus creating obstacles for eliminating the divide between China and African countries, and raising challenges for sharing achievements of the digital economy.

Underdeveloped security assurance of cyber credit

Based on the internet, the Digital Silk Road is characterized by virtuality, openness, stealthiness, and de-centralization. The Digital Silk Road jointly built by China and Africa requires that the two sides establish an inter-regional, inter-cultural, and inter-systemic credit guarantee mechanism to cope with the complex online trading environment. Nevertheless, most African countries suffer from certain deficits such as ambiguity of credit awareness, absence of credit morality, immaturity of credit management, and backwardness of credit intermediary services, among other flaws. The lack of effective legal protection and penalty mechanisms to solve these problems results in the condition that vital elements of the digital economy like electronic payment are difficult to be fully carried out in Africa in the short term. Take South Africa as an example. Most consumers lack enough confidence in e-commerce transactions and hold a more cautious attitude toward online shopping, preferring to purchase products in offline stores.23Joan 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/2018-11-25-sa-consumers-swarm-online-as-tech-enabled-shopping-makes-strides.

Sufficient attention should be paid to cyber security issues that go with the Digital Silk Road. With the further development of global information technology and the internet, cyber-attacks have gradually infiltrated different types of internet terminals, causing violations like hacking, cyber fraud and cyber violence to significantly increase. The capabilities of local governments in African countries are limited, digital infrastructure construction level is low, and the abilities of digital communication enterprises to cope with risks are equally insufficient. Security issues in digital communication projects, remote data transmission services and IT cloud systems are of great importance for China and Africa. Once grave security problems occur, the scale and scope of harm, as well as the potential losses, are incalculable. Therefore, how to ensure secure encryption, storage and transportation of data, and how to elevate the regional network security level in the process of building the Digital Silk Road are urgent issues for both sides in the foreseeable future.

Complex coordination system in regional governance

There are major differences among African countries in political institutions, economic development levels, social governance, legal systems, linguistic and cultural traditions, and religious beliefs. Most countries are in a state of socio-economic transition with limited governance capabilities, accompanied by a plethora of domestic political factions and interest groups, fragmented political landscape, poor reliability of foreign policies, and short-lived continuation of measures. From the perspective of regional governance in Africa, the above-mentioned factors increase the complexity of constructing the Digital Silk Road.

Disputes and frictions related to the Digital Silk Road will not only occur in the area of ordinary trade, but also in many industries and fields such as big data, internet of things (IoT), cloud computing, crossborder e-commerce, financial technology, intellectual property protection, and customs supervision. If stable governance is not in place in African countries, it will lead to a myriad of problems in areas such as China-Africa cross-border e-commerce. First of all, African countries import from China via various sources, including brand manufacturers, discount stores, professional intermediaries, or China's “overseas warehouse,” leading to difficulties for African countries' customs supervision authorities to conduct overall management. Furthermore, the complicated channels of receiving goods in African countries, uneven distribution of benefits, and fragmented market supervision also lead to immense challenges for local customs to register intellectual property. At the same time, some African countries do not attach sufficient importance to the protection of intellectual property rights. Moreover, they have an immature understanding of international business practices and relevant regulations and policies, all of which is having a negative impact on the construction of the Digital Silk Road.

In addition, China and Africa have to overcome other obstacles in building the Digital Silk Road, such as a shortage of digital talents, crosscultural differences, geopolitical risks and the intervention of Western powers. How to explore effective measures to address the aforementioned challenges and avoid risks is an urgent question facing both sides.

Approaches to Jointly Building the Digital Silk Road

At present, the China-Africa joint construction of the Digital Silk Road is still in its initial stage. The two sides have extensive cooperation potential in digital economic development, collaboration on digital economy projects, cultivation of digital talents, and digital economic governance.

Aligning demands and jointly determining direction of cooperation

Based on the desire of African countries for more economic development, China and Africa should further coordinate their positions and jointly formulate a cooperation agenda, which would see African countries' communications network infrastructure integrate with their railways, highways, electricity, bridges and dams in order to achieve coordinated development of network and conventional infrastructure.24Fang Fang, “Constructing the Digital Silk Road: Dynamics, Challenges and Approaches,” International Forum, No.2, 2019, p.72Meanwhile, the two sides should closely align their demands and work out specific timetables and roadmaps for the development of digital infrastructure in Africa. In particular, it is necessary to broaden cooperation in Africa's information infrastructure construction, communications technology improvement, and digital skills training. It is also of great significance to expand broadband access and enhance broadband quality, encourage the middle class in Africa to adopt the consumption habits of online shopping, and promote the integration of logistics, payment, customs clearance and data, thus forming a cross-border e-commerce ecosystem between China and Africa where both sides can share the benefits of digital economic development.

In fact, some African countries have begun to explore potential ways of working with China in order to align their demands in the field of the digital economy. Chinese companies are also exploring the market demand in Africa and seeking areas with converging interests. In January 2018, 12 officials in charge of 9 ministries of the Rwandan government visited Alibaba in Hangzhou, learning from the enterprise's experience on the development of inclusive finance in e-commerce and looking for approaches to applying the Chinese digitalization experience with Rwandan characteristics.25Ali 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.The China National Building Materials Group has proposed a comprehensive foreign trade service operation mode of “crossborder digital trade + shared overseas warehouse” for Africa, integrating e-commerce elements into traditional international trade, proffering onestop comprehensive foreign trade services for African countries such as South Africa, Kenya and Sudan.26Secretariat 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.

Promoting project implementation and utilizing complementary advantages

Within the framework of the BRI, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Agenda 2063 of the African Union, and development strategies of African countries, China and Africa should precisely explore the convergence points of digital economic development between the two sides, so as to identify practical cooperation projects that complement each other's strengths. China and Africa can work together to build critical digital infrastructure, such as cross-border and undersea optical fiber cables as well as satellite navigation. At the same time, they can advance a number of practical cooperation projects among African countries on e-government, smart cities and wildlife protection, etc.

In the process of digital transformation in African countries, Chinese enterprises have made remarkable accomplishments by helping African countries build digital infrastructure. As a case in point, Huawei launched Africa's first ICT Innovation and Experience Center in Johannesburg, South Africa, where local people can experience frontier achievements including 5G communications technology, virtual reality and smart home.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.ZTE has delivered its products and services to 54 countries in Africa, establishing communication networks for governments, private enterprises and operators, and helping local governments with informatization.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.Alibaba and the Kenyan animal protection authorities cooperatively developed the Kenya Wildlife Intelligent Protection Project, which aims to employ big data and the artificial intelligence technology to establish a digital system for wildlife protection.29Ali Research, Construction of the Digital Silk Road in the 21st Century: Practice of Alibaba, p.19.

Cultivating talents and building solid foundation for cooperation

To eliminate the shortage of digital talents in African countries, research institutes and enterprises in China should be encouraged to strengthen personnel exchanges with the African continent through the establishment of joint research centers and innovation platforms. In order to build a solid foundation for cooperation, it is necessary to put forward a comprehensive solution to digital education and joint cultivation of professional technical talents. Up to April 2019, Alibaba has invited more than 200 entrepreneurs from dozens of countries along the Belt and Road to learn about China's experience in digital economic development, among which 87 entrepreneurs were from Africa.30Ali Research, Construction of the Digital Silk Road in the 21st Century: Practice of Alibaba, p.27.Huawei has trained more than 30,000 ICT professionals in seven Africa-based training centers, and the “Future Seeds” talent program has been successfully implemented in African countries such as Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is estimated that 1,000 African students will benefit from it within the next five years.31“Huawei Trains Over 30,000 Communications Technicians in Africa,” Economic Daily, December 6, 2015, p.2.

China's local governments, universities and enterprises can try to establish education platforms and training plans to create outstanding talents for the e-commerce sector. They would be built for supporting African business incubation, reinforcing talents training, and for building a multi-agent collaborative network, which serves to transform research outcomes into economic benefits. Through a collaborative service platform with a set of talents, commodities, projects and education tools, the African demand and the Chinese supply could be efficiently matched. At the same time, social organizations and enterprises in China and Africa should be supported to carry out exchanges and training activities at various levels, which serves to promote the spread of digital skills, enable people's utilization of digital tools to access information, and enhance cultural communication and people-to-people exchanges.

Strengthening communication on governance and creating a fair and just cooperation environment

African countries have gradually recognized the importance of national governance for developing the digital economy. Thus, they have endeavored to ensure the consistency between domestic governance and international legal obligations. Additionally, in choosing their particular development paths, they have come to follow their respective historical and cultural traditions, national legal systems, and governments' development strategies. According to the report released by the UN Economic Commission for Africa in 2019, “African governments should support the development of the digital economy ... In doing this, governments need to set up infrastructure and legal frameworks to prepare for the complex economic operations of the digital economy” and avoid governance failure caused by emerging economic forms.32United 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.

China and Africa should strengthen communication on governance, improve dialogue and consultation mechanisms on cyberspace issues, and jointly build a community of shared future in cyberspace. China can actively promote its internet governance concepts and practices to African countries, and offer them assistance in formulating laws and policies in the fields of intellectual property, privacy protection and cross-border data flow. At the same time, both sides should give full play to the role of the government to better coordinate at the macro governance level, thus achieving top-level policy design. In the process, projects should be differentiated according to priority and be carried out in batches and categories.

Conclusion

The development of the digital economy is of utmost significance to enhance Africa's division of labor in the global value chain. It is also the key to Africa's poverty reduction, socio-economic transformation, and effective participation in economic globalization. Depending on data and information, building the Digital Silk Road will gradually become an innovative path for China and Africa to construct a community of shared future and shared interests, which is beneficial for mutual prosperity in the digital economy era. The Digital Silk Road will effectively promote comprehensive cooperation between China and Africa in various fields such as information infrastructure, trade, finance, industries, and science, education, culture and public health. It will provide African countries with a strong foundation for improving information infrastructure, eliminating the digital divide, and achieving inclusive growth and leapfrog development.