Frédéric Nze, minister of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy of the Republic of the Congo, signs the agreement establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation in Shanghai on 16 July 

The Republic of the Congo has taken a major step in expanding its international digital footprint and strengthening South-South technology cooperation through a series of high-level engagements across China, culminating in its becoming a founding member of a new global AI governance organisation. 

During a multi-city official mission to Shanghai, Shenzhen and Xi'an, a high-level Congolese delegation led by Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy Frédéric Nze and Chief of Staff Kô Goma participated in three major technology and digital economy summits. The trip highlighted the country’s commitment to placing digital transformation at the heart of its national development agenda while strengthening strategic ties under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Belt and Road Initiative. 

In Shanghai, the delegation attended the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026 and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, held from 17 to 20 July under the theme "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future." The event gathered nearly 1,400 global policymakers, researchers and tech industry leaders to address equitable access, security and ethical standards in AI development. 

A major milestone of the conference was the signing of the agreement establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation. As a founding member, the Republic of the Congo joined a global effort to promote inclusive AI governance and reduce technological disparities between developing and developed nations. 

In the tech hub of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, the delegation joined the Africa-Asia Youth Forum on AI Education and Innovation Ecosystems, co-hosted by UNESCO and Codemao, a Chinese educational platform. The forum showcased key milestones achieved under the UNESCO-Codemao Youth Coding Initiative in Congo, including teacher training programmes, student workshops in graphical coding and AI, the establishment of school coding clubs and the launch of a tech incubator. 

Addressing the forum, Goma emphasised the importance of human capital in Congo, where young people represent nearly 76 percent of the population. He called for the gradual integration of AI and algorithmic reasoning into the national curriculum to prepare youth for future workforce demands, noting that investing in digital skills, critical thinking and local innovation ecosystems is vital to unleashing the potential of Congolese youth. 

At the 2026 Digital Silk Road Development Forum in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, held under the auspices of the World Internet Conference, the Congolese delegation outlined its strategic vision for comprehensive digital transformation.  

Kô Goma, chief of staff of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy of the Republic of the Congo, speaks at the 2026 Digital Silk Road Development Forum in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 

Presenting the ministry's digital roadmap, Goma detailed five core national priorities aimed at delivering tangible results: modernising public revenue collection, digitising core public services, expanding robust digital public infrastructure, strengthening national data governance frameworks and reinforcing digital sovereignty through local skill development and strategic public-private partnerships. 

The multi-city mission reflects the enduring strategic partnership between China and the Republic of the Congo. As the current African co-chair of FOCAC, the Republic of the Congo plays a pivotal role in shaping China-Africa digital and economic collaboration. 

During the visit, the delegation met executives from leading technology companies, including Huawei, to discuss national data infrastructure, sovereign cloud solutions and AI-enabled public services. Aligned with Congo's National Development Plan (PND 2022-2026), the mission underscored the country's commitment to harnessing digital technology and AI to drive economic modernisation, social inclusion and sustainable development.