Africa

As part of a new plan agreed upon by Chinese and African leaders at the third Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing in September, China has pledged to help improve science research in Africa in fields such as agriculture, climate change, quantum physics and AI. Chinese President Xi Jinping will provide $50 billion in loans and grants not only for research projects, but also for infrastructure, medical programs and clean energy initiatives. Chinese firms have pledged $10 billion in funding.

A key part of the new plan is providing training through the availability of 50,000 scholarships for citizens of African countries, including scientists, to study in China. Scholarships for postgraduate training will also be offered for Chinese and African institutions, such as the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Juja, Kenya. China will also help expand the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho, Ghana. Additionally, another 50,000 people will be offered travel opportunities to participate in seminars and workshops.

The plan highlights China’s commitment to work with African countries to improve agricultural science and practices, as well as environmental protection, areas that China has been involved in for decades. The plan also recommends the establishment of new joint research centers in environmental studies and geostudies, with locations to be determined. Programs on biodiversity, combating climate change and desertification will also be developed, with 500 senior agriculture experts from China scheduled to travel to African nations to help remodel current agricultural practices.

Analysts and experts note the lack of transparency amongst the over 20 Chinese-government-funded agricultural technology development centers that have been established throughout Africa since 2006, stating that the institutes mostly represent Chinese commercial interests and have realized  little, if any, significant breakthroughs in agriculture R&D.

Source: Nature

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