ADDIS ABABA – China’s Pemier Li Keqiang said in Addis Ababa on Tuesday that he would attend the World Economic Forum in Abuja to promote his country’s investments in Africa.
Keqiang spoke at African Union Commission as part of his Africa’s four-nation tour which started on Sunday with Ethiopia and expected to culminate in Kenya after a stopover in Angola.
The Premier said Africa was among China’s largest trading partners in the world with rail, telecommunication and power projects among the priority investments.
The Premier said that grants would rise to hit 100 billion dollars.
The Chinese government and its investors had already entered about 16 deals and co-operations in railway development projects, roads, health, agriculture and technical assistance.
On arrival, he held talks with Ethiopian leaders, including Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and President Mulatu Teshome.
The Chinese leader had held bilateral talks with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Dlamini Zuma on Beijing’s commitment to deepening the China-Africa strategic partnership.
He pledged to collaborate with the AU on efforts for peace and security on the continent even as he pledged additional 50 million dollars to help address the humanitarian crises in South Sudan.
China had earlier donated 50 million dollars to the East Africa regional body- Intergovernmental Agency on Development (IGAD) to address the humanitarian crises that rocked the people of South Sudan.
The Chinese Premier will arrive in Nigeria on Tuesday, May 6, to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) ending on May 9. (NAN)
