Addis Ababa, October 27, 2025 (ENA) – The African Union Commission (AUC) has reaffirmed that China and Africa are eager to strengthen their cooperation in agriculture, science, and technology to accelerate growth and ensure food sovereignty across the continent.

Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, AU Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, told ENA that China-Africa collaboration has played a vital role in advancing African agriculture and innovation for sustainable development. 

The commissioner made the remarks during the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance Conference held in Addis Ababa, which focused on advancing agriculture through technology, innovation, market development, and value chain enhancement to bolster China-Africa partnerships. 

He emphasized the need for deeper cooperation to leverage China’s expertise in modern farming, digital technologies, and water management. Such collaboration, he noted, aligns with the AU’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA 2025–2034) and Agenda 2063. 

“Africa stands at a crossroads with immense opportunities to apply innovation for sustainable progress,” he reiterated. 

Delivering a message on behalf of Ethiopia’s Minister of Agriculture, Addisu Arega, Efa Muleta highlighted Ethiopia’s remarkable progress in 2025, driven by strong political commitment and leadership. 

He noted that the country’s bold transformation efforts stem from the Ten-Year Development Plan (2021–2030), the Homegrown Economic Reform II, and the AU’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). 

Efa also recalled Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s flagship initiatives, including the Green Legacy Initiative, which has planted over 40 billion trees; the National Irrigated Wheat Self-Sufficiency Program; and the Yelemat Tirufat Initiative, all of which have contributed to an average agricultural productivity growth of 6.8 percent annually. 

“These achievements have made Ethiopia Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest wheat producer and a model for agricultural transformation across the continent,” he added, noting that the Ethiopian Agricultural Research System has been instrumental in disseminating improved technologies to farmers. 

Prof. Lise Korsten, President of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), praised the Alliance’s role in fostering innovation through Sino-African cooperation, describing it as “key to achieving food security for billions.” 

She said the forum provides a crucial platform to assess sectoral challenges and unlock pathways toward sustainable development. 

Ambassador Jiang Feng of the Chinese Mission to the African Union highlighted agricultural modernization as a cornerstone of national development, noting China’s shift from traditional aid to sustainable development cooperation with Africa. 

Citing Africa’s vast untapped arable land and youthful workforce as major assets, the ambassador underscored the importance of embracing digital technologies and smart farming equipment to boost productivity and address global challenges such as climate change and food insecurity. 

He recalled that China has implemented zero tariffs on agricultural products from 53 African countries and established 20 agricultural technology centers across Africa, benefiting more than one million smallholder farmers. 

Abebe Haile Gabriel, Assistant Director-General of the FAO for Africa, described China-Africa South-South Cooperation as a “strategic lever for transforming African agriculture.” 

He noted that the partnership has yielded tangible results, including increased rice yields, improved pest management, digital farming adoption, and enhanced livelihoods for smallholder farmers.

He concluded that given Africa’s ongoing challenges, including low productivity, fragmented value chains, and limited market access, renewed and results-oriented cooperation with China is essential to open new horizons for food production and security.