A volunteer grinds coffee beans with children during a hands-on experience session at the Ethiopia pavilion of a permanent exhibition hall of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Innovation Demonstration Park in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, Aug. 30, 2024. Various activities promoting youth communication between China and Africa were organized here during the summer vacation. With the help of African volunteers from local universities, Chinese students were able to feel the charm of African culture by learning traditional African dance, music, folk arts, and making immersive tours of African customs via VR devices. Photo: Xinhua

Job creation is one of the areas of cooperation with the greatest potential between Chinese and African enterprises, Alaa Ezz, secretary general of the Union of African Chambers, said on Friday on the sidelines of the eighth Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs held during the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. 

Ezz noted that cooperation in key sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and renewable energies will create jobs for both sides.  

African youth are benefiting from various initiatives of training and capacity building provided by China. China is providing technology within international practices and helping to create newer jobs for African youth, Ezz told media, including the Global Times. 

China will encourage Chinese companies in Africa to create job opportunities, and will encourage universities as well as vocational colleges and schools to cooperate with industries in providing practical training to African students during their study in China, according to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027).

In addition to highlighting job creation as a key area of cooperation, Ezz also anticipated that connectivity would be a potential focus for future bilateral economic and trade collaboration. 

According to Ezz, connectivity covers transport and logistics, which is the lifeline connecting the two sides. He also highlighted ICT, telecommunication and novel technologies as key components of connectivity. Ezz stressed the significance of promoting future cooperation in agriculture for food security and renewable energy. 

Speaking on the subject of renewable energy, Ezz said China and Africa are promoting cooperation related to sustainable development. 

China's exports of new-energy vehicles to Africa in 2023 surged by 291 percent year-on-year. The figure for lithium batteries grew by 109 percent and exports of photovoltaic products to Africa increased by 57 percent annually. 

Ezz noted that China's success, from advancements in the new-energy sector to the implementation of cleaner technologies, can be transferred as technologies to Africa.