A senior official of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has said that the information and communication technology (ICT) cooperation between China and Africa will lead to a win-win result.

 

"Chinese companies like Huawei, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the ITU to have many training initiatives for Africa. Such training is not only good for Africa's economy, at the same time it will help the firm to expand the market," Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid, director of ITU Telecommunication Development Sector, told Xinhua Tuesday in an exclusive interview.

 

Under the MoU, Huawei and the ITU will work together to improve connectivity in the rural and remote areas in emerging markets, as well as to close gaps in broadband backbone networks.

 

Al-Basheer echoed the view of Chinese officials of the Information Industry Ministry by saying that China, as a developing country, has similarities with developing countries in Africa and owns rich experience in ICT development from the perspective of a developing country.

 

The director said that Africa needs all kinds of capacity building, such as the training for both students and teachers, and capacity building and e-learning are a key factor to promote the development in the continent where tens of developing countries gather.

 

He said it is a global collaboration that China helps Africa.

 

Al-Basheer was here to attend the Connect Africa Summit held on Monday and Tuesday, an event organized by the ITU and several other prestigious organizations, aimed to enhance telecom connection on the continent.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2007)