The 2026 China Internet Civilization Conference (CICC) will be held in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, from May 19 to 20, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) announced on Wednesday.
Themed "Fostering a Civilized Cyberspace, Forging the Power of Progress," the conference will feature an opening ceremony, a main forum, and 14 sub-forums.
"The 14 sub-forums will focus on key themes such as the online dissemination of innovative theories of the Communist Party of China, the internet and the development of civilized rural customs, the cultivation of internet civilization, the optimization of a pro-business online environment, the fostering of 'good Chinese netizens,' following the mass line online, the development of new forms of literature and art for the general public in the internet age, online rumor debunking, public welfare initiatives in cyberspace, the social responsibility of internet enterprises, the enhancement of national digital literacy and skills, and the empowerment of online civilization development through artificial intelligence. A series of achievements in building a civilized online environment will also be released at the event," Niu Yibing, deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, said.
Niu said that the main forum will unveil outstanding cases of national internet civilization construction for 2026 and launch the year's National Digital Literacy and Skills Enhancement Month.
Furthermore, a themed event titled "Soul-forging and Guidance: Fostering a Clean Cyberspace in Guangxi" is scheduled to take place in Nanning prior to the conference, Niu said.
China to host 2026 Internet Civilization Conference in Nanning
South Africa's sugarcane sector, a cornerstone of the country's agriculture, stands ready to further integrate into the vast Chinese market as the zero-tariff policy for African countries officially takes effect.
China's Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced Tuesday that from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2028, the country will grant zero-tariff treatment to 20 African countries that have established diplomatic ties with China and are not classified as the least developed countries.
This follows the country's earlier decision to grant zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines, effective from Dec 1, 2024, for the 33 least developed African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations.
In effect, the zero-tariff treatment has been expanded to cover all 53 African countries that maintain ties with China.
In KwaZulu-Natal province, one of South Africa's traditional agricultural powerhouses, local farmers are hopeful that their sugarcane products will soon reach Chinese consumers.
Pratish Sharma, a sugarcane grower in the province, has witnessed the industry endure an unprecedented winter of challenges, including volatile international prices and trade barriers. When he heard of China's zero-tariff policy, however, his hope returned.
"It'll make trading in China a lot easier. It will create a better revenue stream for exports of sugar to China. And agreements like these assist in rejuvenating our economy within the industry and making us more viable," the farmer said.
Official data shows that China has been South Africa's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, with bilateral trade exceeding 53.5 billion U.S. dollars.
Yet, the country's agricultural products currently account for only 0.4 percent of China's total agricultural imports, indicating huge growth potential.
Kulani Siweya, market and trade policy director at the South African Sugar Association, sees greater opportunity ahead for the country's roughly 25,000 registered sugarcane growers.
"Main regions or destinations are the U.S., Europe. [We are] exporting about between 35,000 to 70,000 tonnes to the China market. South Africa stands ready to give you quality sweet sugar that will satisfy the Chinese palate," said Siweya.
Beyond sugar, South African specialties such as citrus, macadamia nuts, wine, and other high-quality agricultural products are also expected to gain broader market access in China. This has encouraged farmers like Sharma to experiment with a wider range of crops.
"I've converted 18 hectares of sugar cane into macadamias. So that process of diversification has already begun. And with trade initiatives such as the zero-rated making all of us more sustainable and viable," Sharma said.
John Steenhuisen, South African Minister of Agriculture, said China's zero-tariff initiative will help reshape the agricultural sector.
"The tariff-free access that's been granted us is going to be a game changer for not only citrus but also for the entire agricultural sector. We're now going to be able to compete with excellent quality wines and other agricultural goods in that market in a far more competitive basis," said the minister.
South African sugarcane growers eye sweeter exports as China's zero-tariff policy for Africa takes effect
