Fifty African experts—including university professors, directors of research institutes, and heads of think tanks—participated in the Xi’an seminar on “Chinese-style modernization and Africa’s development,” held from July 17 to 24, 2024, in Shaanxi Province, China. Upon returning to their respective countries, some agreed to take part in our interview series titled “Three Questions for Participants of the Xi’an Seminar.” Today, we speak with Algeria’s representative, Dr. Rouibi Rima.
Hello Dr. Rouibi Rima, you are Algeria’s representative at the Xi’an seminar on “Chinese-style modernization and Africa’s development.” Please introduce yourself and share your impressions following this major event focused on implementing the “Six Key Goals of Modernization” and the “Ten Strategic Partnership Actions” between China and Africa.
I am Dr. Rouibi Rima, Senior Lecturer at the National School of Journalism and Information Sciences (ENSJSI) in Algiers. I had the honor of representing my country, Algeria, at the international seminar in Xi’an on “Chinese-style modernization and Africa’s development.” This high-level gathering builds on the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and aims to explore synergies between China’s modernization model and Africa’s sustainable development aspirations.
My impressions after this major event are deeply positive. The seminar was a true platform for fruitful exchange, marked by a constructive dynamic and a shared vision for a win-win partnership. It enabled the concrete implementation of FOCAC’s six key goals—equality, mutual development, solidarity and security, innovation, harmony in diversity, and capacity building—as well as the ten strategic actions, including health, infrastructure, trade and investment, cultural exchange, and security and stability.
What impressed me most was China’s ability to share its experience of rapid and inclusive modernization, tailored—importantly—to African realities. For example, discussions on food security and poverty reduction highlighted concrete initiatives, such as Sino-African agricultural projects that could boost productivity in Algeria, where we are combating the effects of climate change. Likewise, the infrastructure action—with examples of roads, ports, and railways—reinforces our belief that Sino-African cooperation is a key driver of economic integration in the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa. Overall, this seminar strengthened the bonds of fraternity between China and Algeria, two “Friendly Nations” since 1958. China was the first non-Arab country to recognize the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic (GPRA), just two days after its declaration of independence in September 1958.
This seminar leaves us optimistic about increased collaboration for inclusive development that respects African sovereignty and priorities. I look forward to sharing these advances with our authorities and partners to achieve tangible benefits.
What proposals do you have for a Sino-African cooperation that is closer to the people, from Algeria’s perspective?
What’s great about this exchange is that it embraces a panoramic vision. Although I am a teacher-researcher, my main field of interest is information and communication sciences. But coming to Xi’an helped me better appreciate the importance of multidisciplinarity. Seeing Chinese expertise across various sectors prompts us to reflect on what we need in multiple areas. This seminar allowed me to grasp the weight of Algerian-Chinese cooperation and how far my country has progressed in secure, high-quality projects.
Moreover, Algeria, in its effort to ensure progress across all social strata, believes in showcasing its own resources and talents that can benefit from Chinese know-how. I’m thinking particularly of artificial intelligence (AI), communication tools, media development, and securing the digital sphere. Our Chinese friends could help us, in the near future, to develop our own digital social networks. The rise of information disorder, disinformation, and cognitive warfare calls for a strategic partnership between Algeria and China.
As you know, the Kofi Annan Foundation predicted that Africa would be threatened and destabilized by disinformation campaigns that could undermine the continent’s stability—affecting all development and cooperation efforts. Stability is a strategic issue, and Algeria can potentially rely on its historic partner China, which supported its independence. As the saying goes, “A friend once, a friend forever.” This is not just a proverb—it perfectly reflects the nature of Algerian-Chinese relations.
Returning to multidisciplinarity, I must say I was struck by China’s resilience, which enabled it to achieve food self-sufficiency. Professor Yongzhong Feng from Yangling North-West A&F University's lecture particularly impressed me. The real challenge for our continent is food security. The win-win principle embodied by the Chinese Communist Party’s policies can offer hope to African nations. In fact, the fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), held in Algiers from September 4 to 10, 2025, was a genuine opportunity “to conjugate Sino-African relations only in the present,” as President Xi Jinping aptly put it. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has achieved an exceptional milestone since his election in 2019 by working toward Algeria’s food self-sufficiency. In this context, Algerian-Chinese cooperation can contribute to Africa’s economic influence.
Allow me to put my teacher-researcher hat back on and share some of my aspirations. First, I would advocate for the promotion of scientific research. According to FOCAC, China offered more than 50,000 scholarships to African students between 2018 and 2024. In Algeria, around 1,500 students benefited from educational programs in China in fields such as engineering and medicine. Expanding this program to 5,000 annual scholarships for North Africa—including 1,000 additional scholarships for Algeria—could train a new generation of technicians in renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, sectors in which Algeria is heavily investing.
Many Algerian researchers who received scholarships went to France without generating concrete value. China could host these researchers, train them, and perhaps even establish partnerships with their institutions.
I also believe China could help Algeria develop its own digital social networks and further advance its AI capabilities. I hope our students and researchers will be trained in AI and that we can seriously consider creating a balanced media landscape.
Let me return to media education. Algeria, the African continent, and China are all targeted by fake news. Therefore, establishing a Media and Information Literacy (MIL) center to combat disinformation would be a valuable initiative—one that could counter information disorder and curb cognitive warfare.
What do you think of the Xi’an Think Tank initiative for seminar follow-up? To engage in reflection is already a first step in asserting the African voice and African existence. As Descartes said: “I think, therefore I am.” I also believe this initiative embodies the desire to affirm African existence through thought and dialogue.
As Algeria’s representative at the Xi’an seminar on “Chinese-style modernization and Africa’s development,” I would like to share my opinion on the Xi’an Think Tank initiative for seminar follow-up. This proposal, which I discovered during the closing discussions, is an excellent idea—both innovative and necessary—to transform dialogue into concrete and lasting action. Sustainability in action can be achieved through several key avenues.
First, the establishment of a structured and inclusive follow-up mechanism. The seminar highlighted the six main FOCAC objectives and the ten strategic actions. But without regular monitoring, these commitments risk remaining unfulfilled. The Xi’an Think Tank, by bringing together Chinese and African experts, could organize annual or biannual meetings to assess progress. For example, in Algeria, where Sino-Algerian projects are already underway (such as Chinese investments in renewable energy, representing around 15% of active projects in 2025), this group could identify obstacles and propose adjustments tailored to local contexts.
The second possible avenue is the strengthening of the African voice. From Algeria’s perspective, this initiative is an opportunity to amplify African perspectives within the Sino-African dialogue. Algeria, as an influential member of the African Union, could actively contribute to this group by sharing our experiences in economic diversification and youth employment. Imagine thematic workshops on the Innovation Action, where Algerian startups could collaborate with their African and Chinese counterparts. These collaborations could potentially generate more than 10,000 jobs in the digital sector by 2030, inspired by follow-up models such as the Belt and Road Initiative Forum.
The Xi’an Think Tank initiative is a decisive step toward a more dynamic and accountable Sino-African cooperation. It reinforces my belief that this seminar was not an isolated event, but the beginning of a transformative partnership. Algeria is ready to contribute actively and to reap the benefits for its sovereign development and for Africa—the cradle of humanity.