African participants explore Hangzhou's robot industries. [Photo/China-Africa Digital Technology Cooperation Center]

More than 30 African officials, business executives, and representatives of international organizations began a 10-day digital development training program in Hangzhou on Aug 24, marking the first follow-up to China's commitment at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference to provide AI training opportunities for developing countries over the next five years.

The program, jointly organized by the China-Africa Digital Technology Cooperation Center and the Global Development Promotion Center of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, covers AI, digital governance, and smart manufacturing through lectures, site visits, and discussions.

The China-Africa Digital Technology Cooperation Center was established in Hangzhou's Binjiang district in 2025 following an initiative announced at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit. The center aims to connect African development needs with Chinese companies and technical expertise.

At an embodied intelligence exhibition center in Hangzhou, participants watched robots make coffee, play chess, inspect simulated power tunnels, and harvest fruit. Participants asked about costs, local adaptation, and training requirements, with many particularly interested in applying digital technologies to agriculture, electricity, and infrastructure.

On Aug 28, the group will attend the 2026 China-Africa Digital Capacity Building and Cooperation Conference in Binjiang, featuring a cooperation center launch ceremony and business matchmaking activities.