South Africa’s Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) has signed a Letter of Intent with Chinese tech firm Huawei to boost cooperation in ICT, with a focus on artificial intelligence, research and innovation.

The agreement was signed during Minister Blade Nzimande’s official visit to China and aims to deepen longstanding ties between the two nations.

“This Letter of Intent gives much-needed impetus to building a global order that promotes equitable development, especially for countries in the Global South,” Nzimande said.

The deal follows the recent Belt and Road Ministerial Science and Technology Conference in Chengdu and a bilateral meeting between Nzimande and China’s Minister of Science and Technology, Yin Hejun, which resulted in a separate AI-focused agreement.