Amid global transformations, countries of the Global South are strengthening their technological cooperation with Russia — a trend noted by international media. The Middle Eastern outlet MENAFN reported on statements made by African and Asian representatives at the Global Digital Forum, where the key priorities included digital collaboration, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
Zhou Lijun, Head of the Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia, reminded the audience that the Chinese and Russian economies are closely interconnected. Last year, trade volume between the two countries reached $240 billion. He emphasized that despite sanctions, Chinese businesses continue to actively enter the Russian market — a signal of strong prospects for joint projects.
His view was echoed by Sun Tianshu, founder of the Chinese-Russian digital B2B platform KIFA, who noted that Western restrictions have opened new doors for Chinese companies. According to him, many challenges — including cross-border payment issues — have nearly been resolved.
Joseph Kisi, IT Manager at Zimbabwe’s state internet provider GISP, stated that working relationships between African countries and Russia have long been established. He stressed the importance of technology for development: “We are looking for new ideas and technologies to support our country’s growth,” he said, explaining his participation in the Global Digital Forum.
Sunny Waghlela, founder of Techdefence Labs, proposed strengthening cooperation with India in the fields of AI and cybersecurity. He noted that Russia has the necessary technologies, while India offers highly qualified specialists. He added that several Russian companies are currently considering joint projects in India.
African experts also supported the idea of joint AI development. Risper Onyango, a researcher from Kenya, remarked that technologies are often implemented without consideration for local context: “We’ve already encountered AI solutions that don’t work in our environment. These systems don’t tell our stories,” she told MENAFN. She added that such products must be created collaboratively so that everyone benefits.
African delegates also spoke about potential cooperation in agriculture, education, and data management. Henry Nkya, a scientist and lecturer from Tanzania, said he is particularly interested in how AI can help improve productivity when working from home.
Other participants from the continent also expressed readiness for joint work. Eugénio Alberto Macumbe, Head of Digital Governance of Mozambique, stated that his country is actively developing digital solutions and is currently working on a national AI strategy. He noted that the Forum is a valuable opportunity to exchange expertise — particularly with Russia, which has already made significant progress in this area.
Mohammad Saber Shah, an entrepreneur from Bangladesh and founder of AW Communication and Chittagong Live, called the Global Digital Forum a useful platform for engaging with international colleagues. He described the event as a “bridge” for building new partnerships. According to him, Bangladesh and Russia enjoy strong long-term relations, which provide a solid foundation for advancing digital projects.
The Global Digital Forum gathered around 2,000 participants from 116 countries, including Niger, the Republic of the Congo, the Comoros, Malawi, Cameroon, Tanzania, Somalia, Ethiopia, Senegal, as well as India and China. Participants discussed expanding cooperation in trade, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and technology exchange.
