Macau, China, June 12, 2026 (Lusa) - An analyst said on Friday that China could assist Portuguese-language countries in developing artificial intelligence (AI), presenting an opportunity for developing nations by sharing expertise on integrating energy, electricity grids, and computing power.
“In recent years, when people talk about AI, chips, and algorithms, many think of the United States as the leader, yet the country has limited coordination of the power grid, which hundreds of operators currently manage.
The future of AI also depends on planning and coordination capabilities,” said researcher Dong Ting, from the Centre for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
According to the Chinese researcher, the United States can take more than a decade to build an interstate power transmission line, a potential bottleneck to the development of AI.
“China managed to overcome the energy shortages of the 1990s with ultra-high-voltage transmission grids and integrated planning,” she emphasised.
In the case of Portuguese-speaking countries, Ting considered that integrating green energy, computing capacity, and data networks will be decisive.
“Brazil is already at an advanced stage, Cabo Verde is showing innovation in microgrids, Angola is investing in submarine cables, and Guinea-Bissau has opportunities to build basic infrastructure. Each country will have its own path, but all can benefit from tailored cooperation models,” she said.
Ting made the comments during a panel discussion with government representatives from Brazil, Timor-Leste and Guinea-Bissau, held during the 17th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum and Exhibition (17th IIICF), organised in Macau.
According to the researcher, this experience can be replicated in developing countries, including Portuguese-language nations. “AI can be an opportunity to make the technological leap for the developing world,” she stated.
Among the examples cited, Dong Ting highlighted the Belo Monte hydroelectric project in the north of the state of Pará in Brazil, where the Chinese state-owned energy company China State Grid, the world’s largest electricity transmission and distribution company, built two ultra-high-voltage transmission lines with “heavy reliance on local labour”.
“Our Brazilian friends know that 80% of the country’s electricity comes from renewable sources, mainly hydro.
This is very positive, because everyone is looking for green electricity to power data centres,” he said.
Another case mentioned was Cabo Verde, which, despite having no oil, has integrated wind power, storage and smart grids.
“Microgrids can ensure a stable supply to hospitals, schools or small towns,” she explained.
In Angola, Dong Ting highlighted the construction of the transatlantic cable linking Africa and South America, which reduced data transmission costs by avoiding the Miami route. “If a country has the capacity to build, operate and utilise infrastructure, it is competitive,” she stated.
In Guinea-Bissau, however, the researcher highlighted essential needs: “It still needs electricity, roads, housing and urban planning. The cooperation model must be adapted to each specific situation.”
Dong Ting concluded that cooperation between China and Portuguese-language countries will not have “a single model”, but rather tailored solutions.
“Energy generation projects, electricity grids, computing capacity and data centres are no longer isolated but become parts of the same system, requiring integrated, long-term planning,” she said.
NCM/ADB // ADB.
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