Baidu, a Chinese multinational technology company in internet-related services, products and Artificial Intelligence (AI), said it would partner with African countries interested in advancing technologies.

Mr Gon Lei, Head of Public Communications of Baidu corporations based in China, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Beijing.

Gon spoke through an interpreter on the sidelines of the Baidu Open Day and study tour programme by Journalists from Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America and the Asia Pacific company.

The programme comprised 90 Journalists across 67 countries under the auspices of the China Africa Press Centre (CAPC) programme 2022, hosted by China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA).

Gon said, “Maybe in future, we will have some policies for investment in African countries, but not yet; right now, we are not set to foster cooperation in Africa, maybe in future.

“Gradually we can come up with plans, may reach some countries first, then move to other continents like America.

“It is not our project at the moment because we do not have a plan, but we welcome African countries and governments that contact us to seek our cooperation on technological advancement in future.

Baidu, a corporation with headquarters in China, has strategic departments committed to expanding technological business operations and investments in Africa, Latin America, and Europe.

He said the organisation was established in January 2000 by Robin Li and Eric Xu to make the complicated world become simpler through technology.

He described Baidu as the second largest search engine in the world, saying the organisation became the first Chinese company to be included in the NASDAQ-100 index.

He also said that it became the first Chinese firm to join the United States-based computer ethics consortium Partnership on AI.

NAN reports that the study programme also featured cultural activities centred on “Tai Chi”, a traditional Chinese culture experience.