The African Union Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, H.E. Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, is leading a six-person delegation to Wuhan, China, from November 19-21, 2025, to participate in the China-Africa Innovation for Sustainable Development Conference. The delegation includes representatives from the Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation Department; the Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry, and Mining Department; and the Women, Gender, Development, and Youth Directorate, reflecting the African Union Commission's comprehensive approach to strengthening AU-China cooperation.

The delegation arrived in Wuhan and commenced an intensive programme of engagements the next day. The mission started with a visit to the Wuhan Botanical Garden, a premier research institution under the Chinese Academy of Sciences that houses over 10,000 plant species, including rare and endangered varieties. The visit provided valuable insights into China's approach to scientific research and conservation, setting the tone for deeper discussions on Africa-China collaboration.

H.E. Prof. Banyankimbona delivered the inaugural presentation at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, addressing the theme "Co-Creating Africa's Innovation Future: Bridging Chinese Excellence and African Ingenuity through Open Science and Youth Partnership." His presentation outlined three strategic pillars for deepening collaboration: Open Science for Inclusive Innovation, positioning youth as architects of the future, and ensuring ethics, sovereignty, and mutual respect in technological partnerships.

"We stand at a historic moment of opportunity that calls for stronger collaboration between Africa and China," the Commissioner stated. "Africa, with its ambitious STISA 2034, is implementing a continental blueprint for building a knowledge-driven society. China's remarkable leadership in digital infrastructure, green technology, artificial intelligence, and open science opens pathways for powerful synergies."

Complementing the Commissioner's address, Mr. Mohamed Kimbugwe from the Women, Gender, Development, and Youth Directorate engaged with the China-Africa Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, directly supporting young innovators and entrepreneurs advancing technological solutions across both continents.

The delegation participated in the Welcome Banquet entitled "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization Through Innovation Cooperation," further strengthening people-to-people ties between Africa and China. The mission builds on the recently signed MoU between the African Union and China's Ministry of Science and Technology, which formalizes cooperation through joint laboratories, research centers, and structured exchanges of scientists and scholars.

Over the coming days, the delegation will continue participating in high-level dialogues on innovation for sustainable development and exploring opportunities for enhanced Africa-China cooperation in science, technology, and innovation. Following the Wuhan engagements, the delegation will proceed to Beijing for a strategic meeting with H.E. Mr. Yin Hejun, Minister of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, to further advance bilateral cooperation frameworks and explore concrete mechanisms for implementing the AU-China science and technology partnership. The mission aligns with commitments outlined in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan for 2025-2027, which emphasizes fostering early-career researcher mobility and youth-focused innovation forums to empower Africa's 1.4 billion people, over 70% of whom are under 35.

For further information, please contact:
1. Ms Claudette Chancelle BILAMPASSI MOUTSATSI | ESTI Department- Pan African University | African Union Commission | E-mail: BilampassiC@africanunion.org | Tel: +251 11 518 2014/ +251 11 5182518 |
2. Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africanunion.org