Zambia Advances National AI Strategy Through Zambia-China Cooperation

Zambia continued implementing its National AI Strategy 2024-2026 through 2026, with cooperation between Zambia and China on AI development forming a visible strand of the strategy's execution, including Zambia's role as a co-chair within the UN "Group of Friends" grouping on AI governance.

The National AI Strategy, adopted in 2024, set out priorities spanning digital infrastructure, public-sector AI adoption, and international cooperation on AI governance norms. Zambia's continued activity within the UN Group of Friends framework in 2026 reflects an effort to shape international AI governance discussions rather than solely pursue domestic policy in isolation.

### Balancing bilateral and multilateral engagement

Zambia's approach combines bilateral technical cooperation, including engagement with Chinese partners on AI-related infrastructure and training, with multilateral diplomacy through United Nations channels. Officials have described this dual-track approach as intended to secure both practical infrastructure support and a voice in shaping emerging global AI governance norms.

The continued strategy implementation runs alongside the Smart Zambia Institute's memorandum of understanding with Huawei for a national AI and cloud data centre, together forming a more complete picture of Zambia's AI infrastructure and governance activity in 2026.