The African Union and Chinese institutions are exploring a more structured approach to cooperation on infrastructure, energy and digital transformation, signalling a possible shift away from purely country-by-country projects towards greater alignment with Africa’s continental development priorities. The discussions brought together Dr Kamugisha Kazaura, Director of the AU’s Infrastructure and Energy Directorate, and a Chinese delegation led by Peng Huagang, President of the China Enterprise Reform and Development Society (CERDS).
The AU recognised China’s significant role in building Africa’s physical infrastructure, including roads, railways, ports, energy systems and submarine cables, but stressed that future cooperation should connect more closely with frameworks such as Agenda 2063 and PIDA. The underlying issue is coordination: railways need to connect ports, electricity systems need cross-border links, and digital infrastructure needs to support regional rather than isolated national markets.
China, meanwhile, reaffirmed its position as one of Africa’s major infrastructure partners through FOCAC, the Belt and Road Initiative and bilateral agreements, while offering something beyond construction and finance. CERDS proposed sharing China’s experience in state-owned enterprise reform, management, technology and institutional development, reflecting a growing focus on the capacity of African institutions to operate and maintain the infrastructure being developed.
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The cooperation is also expanding into the digital economy. China has established the China-Africa Digital Technology Cooperation Center in Hangzhou, providing training and capacity building for African officials and businesses in areas such as digital policy and innovation. At the same time, trade and financial links are being strengthened through expanded zero-tariff treatment for African countries and new RMB-clearing arrangements intended to facilitate trade and investment.
The bigger significance is that the AU appears to be asking China to engage with Africa as a connected economic system rather than simply a collection of national markets. If infrastructure, energy, digital networks and SOE reforms can increasingly be planned around continental priorities, Chinese investment could help build interconnected economic corridors rather than isolated projects. The opportunity—and the challenge—is turning decades of individual infrastructure deals into infrastructure that genuinely advances African integration and industrialisation.
