Recently, the Wuzhen Summit of the World Internet Conference 2026 was held, and guest merchants from both China and the rest of the world gathered in Wuzhen to explore new digital economic and trade opportunities. During the summit, the China-Africa Digital Technology Cooperation Center appeared on CCTV; Christine Mwanzaa (the Chinese name Rose), a representative of Latin African Business (LOFICA) under the China-Africa Bridge, and a Zambian businessman, appeared on the stage of the Digital Economy Industry Cooperation Conference, sharing the practical story of digital enabling Africa's development, attracting many international businessmen to do business, and reaching a number of intended orders on the spot.
In the context of building a digital Silk Road, Rose stood in Wuzhen to share the stage, recounting the experience of linking China-Africa resources and cultivating two-way commerce by relying on the China-Africa Bridge. Eight years ago, she came to China and has been engaged in China-Africa trade in Hangzhou and Yiwu for an extended period, becoming a member of the "China-Africa Bridge" initiative for African entrepreneurs. She continues to ship energy storage equipment, home appliances, agricultural machinery and digital services from Zhejiang to Zambia, helping local people increase income and develop the industry.
"At the forum, I shared how we leverage AI-powered digital platforms to help African local entrepreneurs track transactions and manage orders, thereby empowering the upgrading of industries such as mining, agriculture, and food processing." Rose said that she simultaneously operates traditional logistics trade and digital businesses, relying on the resources of the China-Africa Bridge platform to promote China-Africa connectivity.
Power shortages are a long-standing problem in Zambia and many other African countries, with some areas having electricity shortages for months on end. Under the support of the China-Africa Bridge, Rose based its business resources in Yiwu, introduced energy storage and new energy products to its hometown, and looked for stable alternative energy solutions. "This is a common problem shared by my country and many African countries, and I sincerely hope to contribute to this."
In addition to energy products, the rose also stimulates local cooperatives in Zambia to introduce agricultural processing equipment through the China-Africa Bridge supply chain channel, creating local jobs. Local women can take care of their children while processing agricultural products such as peanuts at home; Many friends and family in their hometowns have also used this to start their own businesses, and the micro-enterprise model based on the Zhejiang supply chain has taken root in Africa.
Roses are exporting not just physical goods, but digital services as well: creator networks, order management platforms, market trend monitoring tools. As a China-Africa bridge builder and African entrepreneur, she promotes the implementation of tailored Chinese digital technologies among small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa, supporting their digital transformation. In her view, leveraging AI can help reach more customers and gain access to market data; AI holds great promise for agriculture in Africa and will create new economic opportunities for the continent.
The China-Africa Bridge undertakes the related work of the China-Africa digital technology cooperation center venue operation. This center appeared on CCTV, which is the mainstream media's recognition of the center's digital technology synergy, talent cultivation, and industrial synergy results. LOFICA is an African youth maker incubator program created by China-Africa Bridge, which continues to cultivate merchants from both places like Rose, docking Zhejiang manufacturing, digital resources and African market demand.
The Fifth China-Africa Economic and Trade West Lake Conference will be held from November 17 to 19. The conference will continue to build a platform for China-Africa economic and trade synergies and digital industry cooperation, inviting businessmen and partners from all walks of life to participate in the conference, and continuously explore business opportunities for cooperation between China and Africa in such areas as trade, new energy, agricultural processing and digital services. We will pool supply and demand between China and Africa, export digital tools and industrial programmes adapted to Africa, deepen practical cooperation in energy, agriculture and digital services, and make digital dividends reach more Chinese and African practitioners.
