“We foresee deepening relations with China in that particular area (clean energy), which is actually very important for us,” South African Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Blade Nzimande told Xinhua in a recent interview.
JOHANNESBURG, April 12 (Xinhua) — South Africa is looking to deepen cooperation with China in key areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), clean energy and youth exchanges, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Blade Nzimande has said.
“We have fairly extensive relations with China on science, technology and innovation,” Nzimande told Xinhua in a recent interview, noting that the cooperation is strongly supported by the two countries’ all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era.
He identified AI as one of the most important new frontiers in bilateral cooperation, covering areas ranging from regulatory coordination to researcher exchanges and knowledge sharing.
Highlighting the joint AI research network between South Africa and China, Nzimande described joint research programs as the “bedrock” of cooperation, saying that he would “elevate AI now as one of the most critical areas” in the partnership.
China’s relatively advanced science and technology environment could help empower other developing countries, he added, expressing hope that China would continue playing “a very important role” in promoting inclusive AI cooperation.
Clean energy is another major priority in bilateral cooperation, Nzimande said, adding that South Africa is seeking closer collaboration with China in hydrogen energy, green ammonia and low-carbon technologies linked to the mining and energy sectors.
Noting South Africa’s rich endowment of platinum group minerals and strong renewable energy potential, Nzimande said collaboration in hydrogen fuel cell technologies represents an important opportunity for both sides.
“We foresee deepening relations with China in that particular area (clean energy), which is actually very important for us,” he said.
Beyond bilateral cooperation and Belt and Road cooperation, South Africa and China are also working closely together within multilateral frameworks such as BRICS, the Group of 20, and UNESCO platforms, where cooperation in emerging technologies continues to expand, he added.
Nzimande highlighted cooperation on the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) as an important example of collaboration, noting that the project brings together multiple international partners, including South Africa and China, to advance frontier astronomy research.
The SKA is a network of thousands of radio antennas of varying types and sizes, including SKA-Low in Western Australia and SKA-Mid in South Africa’s Northern Cape. The project is jointly funded, built and run by more than 10 countries, with China among the seven founding members and a signatory to the Square Kilometer Array Observatory Convention signed in 2019.
Speaking of human resources development, Nzimande said young scientist exchange programs between the two countries are of great significance. “The two countries have very talented young people,” he said, adding that cooperation between young talent is a “pillar” of bilateral relations.
Noting this year marks the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, Nzimande said ongoing cooperation among young scientists is helping promote the sharing of ideas, knowledge and research experience.
“Those exchanges are very important as part of people-to-people exchanges,” he added.■
