China will work to boost digital cooperation with other developing nations over the next five years, aiming to narrow the digital divide between the Global South and the Global North under its new "Digital South" initiative, according to a spokesman for China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Li Ming, the CIDCA spokesman, briefed on the Chinese government's major push to support President Xi Jinping's 2021 Global Development Initiative (GDI) by launching the "Digital South" initiative over the next five years, saying that the initiative will enhance technological collaboration and innovation sharing with other developing countries with an aim at bridging the digital gap between the Global North and South.
"China will work with partner countries to identify key areas and directions for cooperation, in efforts to further strengthen the digital infrastructure's support capacity in the partner countries. Through digital technologies, we aim to empower sectors such as pharmaceutical research and development, agricultural production growth, inclusive education, and disaster early warning systems, helping countries in the Global South steadily and deeply integrate into the global digital development landscape," Li said. Li noted that to this end, a new "Digital Capacity Building Fund" has been created under CIDCA's Global Development Project Pool. Over the next five years, China plans to deliver 200 training programs covering the digital economy and AI for partner countries, he said.
Li also outlined that this year, China has continued aligning with the development plans of various other countries, with a strong focus on improving local livelihoods. A number of practical, people-oriented, and quick-impact "small yet beautiful" projects have taken root and flourished around the world.
"In the field of healthcare, we've completed the first AI-assisted total hip replacement surgery in Guinea and launched the Mekong Children's Cardiac Care Project in Cambodia. In the field of agricultural development, we've established the second China-Zimbabwe agricultural cooperation demonstration village and launched agricultural technology assistance programs and the China-Africa Bamboo Center projects in African countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi. Besides, we've dispatched over 200 agricultural experts there to promote yield-enhancing agricultural techniques tailored to local needs," said the spokesman.
China launches "Digital South" to bridge tech divide: spokesman
