Photo taken on Nov. 26, 2021 shows the construction site of the Headquarters Building Phase I Project of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)
China is a big player when it comes to infrastructure in Africa, according to African Union (AU) Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Amani Abou-Zeid.
ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- China is a big player when it comes to infrastructure in Africa, said Amani Abou-Zeid, the African Union (AU) commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Wednesday.
Abou-Zeid made the statement while addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the AU Executive Council meeting, which brings together foreign ministers of African countries at the AU Headquarters in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We do have a large group of countries with whom we work closely in various sectors. Definitely, China is one of the important players in infrastructure in Africa in general," she said. "China is a big player when it comes to infrastructure in Africa."
The two-day AU Executive Council meeting is being held under the theme of the year "Building resilience in nutrition on the African continent: Accelerate the Human Capital, Social and Economic Development."
Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat (R) speaks during the opening of the 40th ordinary session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Feb. 2, 2022.(Xinhua)
In a recent interview with Xinhua, Abou-Zeid had emphasized that the energy, infrastructure and digital economy are potential areas for further enhancing Africa's connectivity and integration and boosting bilateral partnerships with China and beyond.
Abou-Zeid had also highlighted China's supportive role in the AU's 50-year continental development Agenda 2063, saying, "For us at the African Union Commission, we do appreciate the approach adopted by China to advance the partnership based on African priorities and the Agenda 2063." ■
