Exports of Chinese satellites, joint construction of space infrastructure, and joint research and development of satellites … The recent years have seen substantial growth in China-Africa cooperation in the space sector, which is bringing tangible benefits to both sides.  Since space utilisation is a highly technology- and capital-intensive industry, partnerships with capable players like China are essential for Africa to develop its space capabilities. Egypt, one of the most active countries in Africa in the sector, stands as a good…

Prosper Oshomame, a 20-year-old Nigerian artist, is closer than ever to fulfilling his childhood dream of exploring space. His painting Shared Aspirations travelled to space with the Shenzhou-16 mission, which ran from May to October 2023.  The artwork from the young Nigerian depicts an astronaut in a circle formed by the Chinese and Nigerian national flags and surrounded by stars, illustrating China-Africa collaboration based on a common goal. His painting, which gives an artistic expression to space exploration, was one of the 10 most…

On 5 March, national and global spotlight turned to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing where around 3,000 deputies gathered to open the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC). Over a span of seven days, the deputies, representing all of China’s ethnic groups, regions and sectors, discussed and decided on a range of issues critical for the country’s development.  This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the people’s congress system in China.…

In this year’s government work report, Chinese Premier Li Qiang pointed out that China will strive for solid progress in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. The country will steadily advance cooperation on major projects and implement a number of “small yet smart” projects for improving the people’s well-being.  As an international public product and cooperation platform, the achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the past 10 years have been noticed around the world. However, the spread of…

High-level opening up and policies to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) were hot topics during the annual sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, China’s key annual political meetings commonly known as Two Sessions.  China has been one of the most popular FDI destinations over the years and has benefitted from it. However, last year, according to data from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, China’s actual use of FDI…

Simphiwe Zondi in Johannesburg, South Africa, was especially happy on 16 April. At the 2024 Job Fair of the Chinese-Invested Enterprises in South Africa held in the Gallagher Convention Centre on that day, he presented his CV and immediately secured a job as a technical director at the South Africa subsidiary of PowerChina, which ranked 105th on the Fortune Global 500 list in 2023. He was one of the few applicants who signed employment contracts at the job fair.  “I cannot reveal…

During the Two Sessions of 2024, the emergence of an innovative vision for the economy was at the heart of the debates, with an emphasis on high-quality development. This approach is based on new quality productive forces and the rise of the digital economy.  Over time, technologies such as the Internet, big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain have been seamlessly integrated into all areas of economic and social development. On a global scale, the scientific and technological…

Lucy Wahome stumbles and struggles to maintain her balance and walk as a nurse rushes to lend her support, soon after she got admitted at the clinic.  Wahome, 30, initially sought medical treatment at her home clinic in Kiambu County, Kenya, which seemed well organised; but she later realised that constant power outages at the facility seriously compromised the quality of care at the clinic.  “I discovered that I had fibroids two years ago and decided to take some herbal…

The 13th Meeting of China-Africa Think Tank Forum held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, released a document titled Consensus Among African and Chinese Think Tanks on Deepening Global Development Cooperation. Also known as the Africa-China Dar es Salaam Consensus, the document calls on the international community to deepen development cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect, solidarity, win-win cooperation, openness, and common prosperity. It proposes to adopt a people-centred approach to development to create a friendly institutional environment for…

In an inspirational speech in 1996, then South African Deputy President Thabo Mbeki said, “Whatever the setbacks of the moment, nothing can stop us now! Whatever the difficulties, Africa shall be at peace! However improbable it may sound to the sceptics, Africa will prosper!”   The 37th African Union (AU) Summit was convened in Addis Ababa on 17 February, where leaders from across Africa converged to deliberate on pressing issues and chart a course for the future of the continent. The…