Chinese technologies inject new momentum into development of African countries

中国技术为非洲国家发展注入新动能

CHANGSHA, China, June 17 (Xinhua) -- A small booth showcasing perennial rice technology developed by a Chinese company gathered a large crowd, with many of the visitors from Africa avidly taking notes as a presenter was giving a briefing.

新华社中国长沙6月17日电-一个展示某中国公司研发的多年生稻技术的小展位吸引了大量人群，许多来自非洲的参观者在讲解员进行介绍时热切地做笔记。

The above scene at the 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) that recently concluded in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, was just one of the examples of Chinese professionals passing on their expertise and experience to their African counterparts.

发生在最近在中国中部湖南省省会长沙闭幕的第四届中非经贸博览会（CAETE）上的上述场景只是中国专业人士向非洲同行传授专业知识和经验的例子之一。

Chinese technological advances in various fields, notably in biotechnology, digital communications and artificial intelligence, have been contributing significantly to the development and modernization in Africa.

中国在各个领域的技术进步，特别是在生物技术、数字通信和人工智能领域，为非洲的发展和现代化做出了重大贡献。

PERENNIAL RICE

多年生水稻

As one of the outcomes of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the "China-Africa Cooperation Center for Perennial Rice Technology" has been created to promote Africa's agricultural development and improve the livelihood of African people.

作为中非合作论坛2024年北京峰会的成果之一，“中非多年生稻技术合作中心”已成立，旨在促进非洲农业发展，改善非洲民生。

Unlike traditional rice, which must be sown every year, perennial rice can be harvested several times after a single planting. Currently, perennial rice cultivation has been successfully introduced into several African countries, including Burundi, Uganda, Madagascar and Mozambique.

与必须每年播种的传统水稻不同，多年生水稻一次种植后可以收获多次。目前，多年生水稻种植已成功引入几个非洲国家，包括布隆迪、乌干达、马达加斯加和莫桑比克。

In early 2024, a technical team from China's BGI group established a perennial rice planting demonstration base in Karuzi, Burundi. After a few months, the rice was harvested last June for the first season, with its average yield per acre doubling that of the local rice. Moreover, the perennial rice has realized regeneration, thus significantly enhancing agricultural efficiency for local farmers.

2024年初，中国华大基因集团的技术团队在布隆迪卡鲁齐建立了多年生水稻种植示范基地。几个月后，去年6月收获了第一季水稻，其每英亩平均产量是当地水稻的两倍。此外，多年生水稻实现了再生，从而显著提高了当地农民的农业生产效率。

Zhang Qiang, an expert from BGI Group, told Xinhua that the planting of perennial rice can significantly reduce production costs resulting from repeated sowing and seedling raising, thus allowing local farmers to devote more time and energy to other production and operation activities. Perennial rice can also effectively reduce land ploughing, protect soil structure, thus lowering the risk of soil erosion and promoting sustainable agricultural development.

华大基因集团专家张强告诉新华社记者，种植多年生水稻可以显著地大幅降低因重复播种育秧而产生的生产成本，从而让当地农民将更多时间和精力投入到其他生产经营活动中。多年生水稻还能有效减少土地耕作，保护土壤结构，从而降低水土流失风险，促进农业可持续发展。

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

数字化转型

As part of the Madagascan government's "Madagascar Emergence Plan" (PEM), the construction of communications infrastructure has been given priority. Chinese companies have participated in projects under the plan, making a significant contribution to improving the country's communications facilities, particularly network coverage in remote rural areas.

作为马达加斯加政府“马达加斯加应急计划”（PEM）的一部分，通信基础设施建设已被列为优先事项。中国企业参与了该计划下的项目，为改善国家通信设施，特别是偏远农村地区的网络覆盖做出了重大贡献。

At the end of 2024, construction of the EPC project for the Menabe rural network in Madagascar, undertaken by China's Genertec International Holding Co., Ltd., officially kicked off. The first phase of the project involves the construction of 73 sites, with an estimated network coverage of 2,340 square km. Once completed, it will enable isolated villages to access telephone communications, according to project manager Gao Bo.

2024年底，由中国通用技术国际控股有限公司承建的马达加斯加梅纳贝农网EPC项目正式开工建设。该项目的第一阶段涉及73个站点的建设，预计网络覆盖面积为2340平方公里。据项目经理高波介绍，项目建成后，它将使偏远的村庄能够获得电话通信。

Meanwhile, the Chinese company has also started constructing the rural communications network in Tanzania this year. According to project manager You Chenyi, as Tanzania has abundant sunshine, solar energy will be used as a power source for the network, significantly reducing costs.

与此同时，这家中国企业今年也开始在坦桑尼亚建设农村通信网络。据项目经理尤晨怡介绍，由于坦桑尼亚日照充足，将采用太阳能作为网络的电源，大幅降低成本。

"AFRICA PASS"

“非洲通行证”

In the process of economic and trade cooperation and exchanges between China and Africa, there is a huge demand for intelligent translation devices, especially those with translation functions in African native languages.

在中非经贸合作交流过程中，对智能翻译设备尤其是具有非洲母语翻译功能的设备需求巨大。

Wang Zhan, executive director of the Institute of Global South Studies at Tianjin University in China, said that in the case of language barriers, Chinese enterprises face multiple difficulties in Africa. Firstly, inadequate communication in detail may lead to delays in project approval and an increase in upfront costs; secondly, the implementation of work instructions such as production plans and technical specifications by Chinese personnel usually relies on the English proficiency of local employees, which may lead to implementation deviations and eventually result in economic losses.

中国天津大学全球南方研究院执行院长王战说，存在语言障碍的情况下，中国企业在非洲面临多重困难。首先，细节沟通不充分可能导致项目审批延迟和前期成本增加；其次，中方人员对生产计划、技术规范等工作指令的执行通常依赖于当地员工的英语水平，这可能导致执行偏差，最终造成经济损失。

In this regard, Hunan Chuanshen Technology Co., Ltd. of China has launched the "Africa Pass" portable translation device, based on its independently developed language model of the China-Africa economic and trade cooperation and the language resources of 53 African countries. This device can translate 144 languages and provide relatively accurate translation services for exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and African enterprises in infrastructure, agriculture and other fields.

对此，中国湖南传神科技有限公司基于其自主研发的中非经贸合作语言模型和53个非洲国家的语言资源，推出了“非洲通”便携翻译设备。该设备可翻译144种语言，为中非企业在基础建设、农业及其他领域开展交流合作提供相对精准的翻译服务。

The "Africa Pass" was displayed at the Changsha expo, converting Chinese voice input into the voice of Swahili, a language commonly used in Eastern Africa. Pamela Nguji, an associate professor at Kenyatta University in Kenya, was amazed at the efficiency of the device.

“非洲通”在长沙博览会上展示，将中文语音输入转换为东非通用语言斯瓦希里语的语音。肯尼亚肯雅塔大学副教授帕梅拉·恩古吉对该装置的效率感到惊讶。

"This is indeed very convenient," she told Xinhua, "Language translation is so important in the process of communication. It can help people to understand each other quickly."

“这确实非常方便，”她告诉新华社记者，“语言翻译在交流过程中至关重要，它可以帮助人们迅速交流，理解彼此。”

(Wang Ziyan also contributed to the story)

（王紫妍对本文有贡献）