This Policy Brief is based on the conference hosted jointly by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in South Africa. The conference, titled ‘Reimagining African Modernisation: Leveraging China-Africa Partnerships for Technology and Green Development’, was held on the 17th of  September 2025 in Pretoria.

The event brought together policymakers, researchers, technical experts, diplomats and business leaders from Africa and China for an exchange of ideas about industrial development, infrastructure, digital connectivity and green energy. These issues were discussed in the context of the various modernisation initiatives launched at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit.

This MISTRA policy brief identifies the key findings and actionable policy recommendations that emerged.