The 2024 China-Africa Internet Development and Cooperation Forum was held in Xiamen, China, on April 2-3, 2024, and the parties had in-depth exchanges on China-Africa cooperation on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Ms. Bi Xiaohan, Deputy Director of the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI) and Mr. Sit Fung, Chief of the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) Management Centre, were invited to attend the forum.

Ms. Bi Xiaohan, on behalf of UNESCO-ICHEI, participated in the roundtable discussion on "Sharing Development Opportunities for Digital Economy: A New Chapter of China-Africa Cooperation," presenting the UNESCO-ICHEI's concepts and practices in teacher empowerment in higher education, digital talent cultivation, and ecological cooperation in the field of AI between China and Africa.

The 2024 China-Africa Internet Development and Cooperation Forum was organised by the Cyberspace Administration of China and the People's Government of Fujian Province under the theme "Building a Digital Innovation Partnership and Creating a Better Future for Digital Cooperation." The forum featured four sub-forums, including "Sharing Opportunities for Digital Economic Development," "Expanding China-Africa Online Media Cooperation," "Building a Solid Barrier for Cybersecurity," and "Development and Governance of Artificial Intelligence." The forum aimed to provide a platform for expanding and deepening exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa in the fields of digital economy, cybersecurity, online media, and governance of AI, jointly implementing the "Dakar Declaration of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation" and the "Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Dakar Action Plan (2022-2024)", and working together to build a community of shared future in cyberspace. Approximately 400 representatives from China and 20 African countries, as well as international organisations, universities, research institutions, and media, attended the forum.

Moreover, the Forum issued a Chair`s Statement on China-Africa Cooperation on AI, adhering to a people-centred approach and the principles of AI for good, equity and openness, deepening China-Africa friendly cooperation on AI, and further promoting the high-level development of China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership.