African Youth AI Innovators from 25 Countries Visit Fudan to Discuss Technology Applications and Cooperation
Author: Global Center for AI Innovation and Governance Published: 2026-10-29 20:27:11 Source: Global Center for AI Innovation and Governance+ Save this article
2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, and is also the "China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges." Against the backdrop of a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, artificial intelligence is injecting a steady stream of innovative momentum into the traditional friendship between China and Africa.
On the afternoon of October 23, as one of the flagship events of the "China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges," the "Visit of Winners of the African Youth AI Application Case Creativity Competition," organized with the participation of the Secretariat of the Chinese Follow-up Committee of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the AI Research Institute of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, came to Fudan University. Twenty-five winners from 25 African countries, including Kenya, Mauritius, Cameroon, Angola, Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, and Rwanda, visited the Global Center for AI Innovation and Governance.
Through specialized training, industry sharing, and interactive exchanges, the event focused on topics such as global AI governance, technological innovation and industrial application, academic research, and talent cultivation. It aimed to promote interaction between young Chinese and African innovators and Chinese universities and enterprises, and to build a platform for exploring pathways for the inclusive application of AI technology and deepening cooperation on capacity building.
The African youth delegation visits Fudan University
At the start of the event, Ding Jie, Deputy Director of the Office of International Students Affairs at Fudan University, delivered a welcome address. She extended a warm welcome to the African youth representatives and briefly introduced Fudan University's education for international students in China. Currently, Fudan University has international students from more than 70 countries and regions, including young students from multiple African countries, and the number of African students has also grown in recent years. She expressed the hope that the youth representatives would further understand Fudan University through this visit, share their experience in AI learning, research, and application with Fudan faculty and students, and enhance exchanges and mutual understanding.
Ding Jie, Deputy Director of the Office of International Students Affairs at Fudan University, delivers a welcome address
Xin Yanyan, Deputy Secretary-General of the Global Center for AI Innovation and Governance and Assistant Researcher at the Fudan Development Institute, delivered specialized training titled "Global AI Governance: China's Vision and Practices" to the African youth delegation. Xin Yanyan introduced China's AI governance philosophy of adhering to a people-centered and AI-for-good approach, as well as progress in building AI governance mechanisms under the United Nations framework and the Global AI Capacity Development Network. She also discussed how to promote AI technology sharing, capacity enhancement, and inclusive development through international cooperation, in light of the practical needs of Global South countries in technology access, capacity building, and localized application.
Xin Yanyan, Deputy Secretary-General of the Global Center for AI Innovation and Governance, conducts specialized training on AI governance
In the industry sharing session, Zhao Yunfeng, Vice President of Alibaba Cloud International and General Manager of the Africa Region, Xu Weiguo, Solutions Architect for the Alibaba Cloud Africa Region, and Jiang Xinyi, AI MaaS Solutions Architect for Alibaba Cloud International Business, gave presentations in succession.
Drawing on Alibaba Cloud's business practices in the African market, Zhao Yunfeng introduced AI technology development and industrial application, shared the development opportunities and application prospects of AI technology in Africa, and helped the young participants understand exploration directions for combining AI with local industrial development needs.
Zhao Yunfeng, Vice President of Alibaba Cloud International and General Manager of the Africa Region, gives a presentation
Starting from technical solutions and application practices, Xu Weiguo introduced approaches to applying AI technology in different business scenarios. He shared insights on how technology can adapt to actual needs and promote application implementation, providing a reference for participants to understand how AI moves from technical capability to practical application.
Xu Weiguo, Solutions Architect for the Alibaba Cloud Africa Region, gives a presentation
Jiang Xinyi introduced Model-as-a-Service (MaaS) and related AI solutions, helping participants understand the connection between large model services and AI application development, as well as the role of related technologies in application exploration.
Jiang Xinyi, AI MaaS Solutions Architect for Alibaba Cloud International Business, gives a presentation
The three guests' presentations, from different perspectives including industrial development, technology application, and model services, demonstrated multiple pathways for combining AI technology with actual needs. Afterwards, the guests and young African participants exchanged views on issues such as technical needs in AI applications, implementation challenges, and localization adaptation.
Yang Chongsheng, Vice Dean of the Shanghai Global South Academy, Researcher at the Fudan Development Institute, and Deputy Director of the Fudan University Global South Field Research Laboratory, introduced the background, institutional positioning, and talent cultivation system of the Shanghai Global South Academy. Yang Chongsheng said that the academy focuses on Global South research and talent cultivation, emphasizes area and country studies, interdisciplinary cooperation, and long-term field research, and stresses the combination of language ability, regional knowledge, and field research. It is committed to cultivating talent with regional expertise, interdisciplinary research capabilities, and an international perspective.
Yang Chongsheng, Vice Dean of the Shanghai Global South Academy, introduces the academy's development and talent cultivation
During the exchange and discussion session, the young African participants, drawing on their own practices, held in-depth discussions with the guests on topics such as AI applications, data security, digital infrastructure, and talent cultivation.
In response to issues such as data privacy protection, insufficient computing resources, and the localization of artificial intelligence applications, the Alibaba Cloud guest introduced relevant data management measures, open-source model applications, and cloud resource support. On academic cooperation and talent cultivation, Yang Chongsheng responded to participants' questions on graduate training, long-term field research, and institutional cooperation, and said that further communication could be pursued through formal channels to explore cooperation opportunities. The attending guests also introduced channels for participating in Fudan University's international talent exchange and professional training programs.
The on-site exchange atmosphere was lively, and the participants' questions were closely tied to the practical needs of AI development in African countries, demonstrating African youth's active interest in technological innovation and international cooperation.
Participants ask questions and exchange views on site; swipe right to view more photos
Through specialized training, industry sharing, and interactive exchange, this event further deepened the young African participants' understanding of China's AI governance practices, industrial development, and academic research, promoted experience exchange between Chinese and African youth in the field of artificial intelligence, and built an exchange platform for subsequent AI capacity building and practical cooperation.
Group photo of the African youth delegation and event guests
Original link:https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/fJwsky9VBByMbLCkUL2HxQ?scene=25&sessionid=#wechat_redirect
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