China and African railway experts deepen cooperation through Qinghai–Xizang exchange

Railway officials and diplomats from 19 African countries have completed a week-long technical exchange in China’s Qinghai–Xizang region, with both sides pledging closer cooperation on railway technology, skills development and infrastructure planning amid growing demand for modern rail networks across Africa.

LHASA, Xizang, China — China and representatives from 19 African countries have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding railway cooperation through technology transfer, professional training and infrastructure development during a week-long technical exchange centred on the Qinghai–Xizang Railway, one of the world’s highest-altitude railways.

The African Railway Talent Qinghai–Xizang Tour forms part of the 2026 China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, bringing together railway professionals and diplomats to study railway planning, operations, engineering, environmental management and technological innovation. Organisers say the programme is designed to strengthen institutional links while providing African participants with first-hand experience of China’s railway management practices.

The delegation launched the programme in Lhasa before travelling on the Qinghai–Xizang Railway to Xining in Qinghai Province, observing operational facilities and learning about the engineering systems used to maintain railway services across the Tibetan Plateau. Participants examined safety management, ecological conservation measures, high-altitude operating procedures and maintenance technologies developed for one of the world’s most technically demanding railway environments.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, described railways as key drivers of economic development and regional connectivity. He said the programme reflected the commitment of China and African countries to deepen cooperation in railway planning, construction, operations, technology transfer and professional standards under the broader China–Africa partnership.

Yang said railway cooperation between China and Africa has expanded over several decades, citing projects including the TAZARA Railway, the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway, the Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway and Nigeria’s Abuja–Kaduna Railway as examples of transport infrastructure intended to improve regional connectivity and trade. He said China was ready to expand technical training, joint research and institutional exchanges between railway organisations in China and Africa.

Chinese regional officials also highlighted the Qinghai–Xizang Railway as an example of integrating engineering, environmental protection and economic development. They said delegates were introduced to technologies designed to protect the plateau’s fragile ecosystem while maintaining railway operations in extreme climatic and high-altitude conditions.

African delegates emphasise skills transfer

African participants welcomed the opportunity to study railway systems that operate in challenging environments and argued that technical exchanges could strengthen the continent’s transport sector.

Representing the African delegation, Engineer Nkumbe Siame, Zambia’s Director of Transport at the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, described the TAZARA Railway as one of the enduring symbols of China–Africa friendship. He noted that 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the railway’s completion and said the ongoing TAZARA revitalisation programme could improve operational efficiency while strengthening regional trade links across Southern and Eastern Africa.

Siame said African countries were seeking greater cooperation in railway planning, engineering, innovation, operational safety and environmental management as governments invest in modern transport infrastructure to support economic growth and regional integration. He added that knowledge-sharing initiatives could help develop technical expertise among African railway professionals and strengthen long-term institutional capacity.

Ethiopia’s Ambassador to China, Tefera Derbew Yimam, described the study visit as an opportunity for African railway specialists to learn from one of the world’s most technically complex railway systems. He pointed to the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway as an example of how cooperation with China has contributed to railway development and skills training, noting that thousands of railway technicians have received professional training since the line entered service.

The ambassador said technologies developed for the Qinghai–Xizang Railway—including engineering techniques for high-altitude operations, permafrost protection and environmental conservation—could provide lessons for railway projects in parts of Africa with demanding geographical conditions. He described railways as “a bond of friendship and a bridge for development” while calling for continued technical exchanges between African and Chinese railway institutions.

Why the exchange matters

The programme reflects a broader shift in China–Africa cooperation from infrastructure construction towards knowledge exchange, institutional partnerships and workforce development.

Many African governments are investing in railway modernisation to improve regional connectivity, facilitate trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and reduce transport costs. While financing and construction have often dominated discussions around China–Africa infrastructure cooperation, initiatives such as the Qinghai–Xizang exchange place greater emphasis on technical expertise, operational management and long-term capacity building.

For African railway authorities, exposure to engineering practices developed for one of the world’s highest railways offers practical insights into safety systems, environmental management and operational resilience. Whether these lessons can be adapted successfully to African conditions will depend on local infrastructure priorities, financing arrangements and institutional capacity.

The programme also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the TAZARA Railway, a landmark China–Africa project that continues to influence discussions on regional transport integration and the future of cross-border rail development.

Although the exchange focused on railway technology, it also reflects wider diplomatic efforts to deepen people-to-people cooperation between China and African countries through professional exchanges, education and institutional collaboration during 2026.

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Key Developments

Item	Details
Participating countries	19 African countries
Programme	African Railway Talent Qinghai–Xizang Tour
Location	Lhasa and Xining, China
Focus	Railway engineering, operations, safety, environmental management and technology transfer
African priority	Skills development and institutional capacity
Chinese priority	Technical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges

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What It Means for Africa

As African governments seek to expand rail networks and improve regional transport links, the challenge is shifting from constructing infrastructure to operating and maintaining increasingly sophisticated railway systems. Technical exchanges such as the Qinghai–Xizang programme could contribute to workforce development and institutional learning, particularly in engineering, safety management and operational resilience. Their long-term impact, however, will depend on sustained investment, local skills retention and the ability of participating countries to adapt international experience to domestic transport needs.