A South African professor says China is entering a golden age of high-tech innovation and development, expected to drive new growth and create opportunities for Africa as China begins its 15th Five-Year Plan.
Speaking to China Media Group (CMG) in Johannesburg, Garth Shelton, a professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, said that Africa is waiting to take part in China's technological transformation.
"I think China's now entering the golden age of high-tech development and innovation. And of course, there will be a new driver for growth and a way to produce new products and do the benefit of all. I think Africa is waiting to participate in this new process. It's a very exciting time in China, I think, for this new innovation, and of course, already you see on our roads more and more electric vehicles. So the future for China and Africa, I think, is very bright," said Shelton.
Shelton also spoke highly of China's stability and certainty in its development, saying that China is a reliable partner for Africa and that China-Africa cooperation has entered a golden era.
"I would agree with the concept of stability and certainty. I think over the last many years, China's relationship has always been like a friend that we can rely on. So I think going into the future, China will still be a friend of Africa, and that friendship will only grow stronger over time. And China's economy, we believe, will only grow stronger over the next five years. So we see ... of course, we can also bear in mind the tariff reductions for our products to be sold into China. So this is also a golden age, I think, for China-Africa cooperation," said Shelton.
South African professor: China’s golden age of development to drive stronger Africa ties
South African professor: China’s golden age of development to drive stronger Africa ties
