Scholars from Central and South Africa focus on green technology cooperation and modernization of African governance capabilities

China News Service, Johannesburg, November 13. The "Governance Reading Club: Green Technology Cooperation and the Modernization of African Governance Capabilities" was recently held at the University of Venda in Limpopo, South Africa. More than a hundred representatives from all walks of life in South Africa participated in the event.

Fulufhelo Netswera, acting president of the University of Venda, said in his speech that green and low-carbon development is an important way to promote sustainable growth, strengthen environmental protection and modernize the national development system. China’s accumulated experience in the field of green development provides valuable reference for African countries. He pointed out that China's practice of continuing to increase investment in technological innovation, infrastructure construction and industrial transformation shows that green technology can improve people's livelihood, enhance industrial competitiveness, and inject power into modern development.

Ni Yanshuo, chief reporter of the Africa Branch of the China International Publishing Group's European and African Center, said when introducing the event that the world is currently experiencing a new round of technological revolution, which is driving industrial transformation and upgrading. Facing common challenges such as climate change, energy shortages and environmental issues, it is necessary for China and African countries to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the field of green technology. China's industrial capabilities in wind power equipment, photovoltaic component manufacturing and system integration are one of the important backgrounds for discussions on green technology cooperation between China and South Africa.

Gundo Maswime, CEO of the Musina-Makado Special Economic Zone, said that China’s development emphasizes that the results of economic growth benefit all people, not minority groups. China's important achievements in poverty reduction, especially its announcement to eliminate absolute poverty in 2021, provide useful reference for other countries. For many African countries, helping people escape poverty is still the top priority facing their governments, which also demonstrates the importance of strengthening exchanges and cooperation in state governance between China and African countries.

As the CEO of the Musina-Makado National Special Economic Zone, Masweimai introduced that the special economic zone was established in 2017 by the South African government based on the experience of China’s special economic zone construction. The special zone is located in Limpopo Province in northeastern South Africa. It is committed to promoting northern South Africa and international trade and enhancing the competitiveness of South African products. It has become an important project for local economic development and investment attraction.

Masweimai said that from the perspective of government governance, green technology is not only an important choice for environmental protection, but also a new path to promote economic development, improve public services, expand energy accessibility, create jobs and build resilient communities. African countries should place green technology in an important position in their national development plans. China-Africa green technology cooperation can focus on expanding cooperation space in four aspects: renewable energy, skills training, digital governance and green industry.

Ndivhuwo Madzusa, Acting Director of International Relations of the Limpopo Provincial Government, stressed that it is very necessary for Limpopo Province to strengthen personnel exchanges with relevant Chinese provinces. The content of exchanges between the two sides in recent years is closely aligned with the African Union's "Agenda 2063", which will help inject impetus into South Africa's long-term development. Within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the cooperation between the two parties focuses on technology transfer to help South Africa better integrate into the global supply chain. China also continues to support the construction of projects such as special economic zones, industrial parks and local processing plants in South Africa. Currently, Limpopo Province has Musina-Makado Special Economic Zone and Fetakgomo-Tubatese Special Economic Zone in operation.

He introduced that since 2023, China's Henan Province has continued to receive government officials, university scholars and young leaders from South Africa's Limpopo, North West and Mpumalanga provinces, organized them to understand China's development situation, and carried out customized training based on actual needs, effectively improving the capabilities of the participants. The project is still ongoing.

Jethro Zuwarimwe, a professor at the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture at the University of Venda, believes that green technology will not automatically transform into green development. Factors such as policy choices, financing support, skills development, industrial capacity and public accountability systems also play a key role.

He said that China's successful experience in strategic coordination, technological innovation, infrastructure construction and industrial development has provided useful reference for African countries, but African countries still need to fully consider their own national conditions when formulating development paths. To measure the effectiveness of cooperation, we should not only look at the number of equipment imports or project announcements, but should also pay attention to the stability of public services, local capacity building, the development of productive enterprises, the creation of decent jobs, ecosystem protection, and the practical improvement of people's living standards. "Our opportunity now is to transform green technology cooperation into practical tools to promote Africa's sustainable modernization process."

Mukundi Mushaphi, director of the local economic development department of Wembe district-level city in Limpopo Province, said that the Chinese government attaches great importance to technological development and concentrates top talents in technological research and development. In this regard, African countries should strengthen cooperation with China and learn corresponding experience based on their own national conditions. China has advanced technology and Africa has rich resources. China and Africa should strive for common progress through joint cooperation.

This reading club was co-sponsored by the European and African Center of China International Publishing Group and the University of Venda in South Africa, and hosted by the Confucius Institute for Green Technology at the University of Venda.