Africa invites China, other countries to infrastructure bid

Peter Subramaoney, the president of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) said Africa should look at various sources for the funding.

"There should not be any conflict of ideas between government and the private sector. The public-private partnership should enhance recovery to our infrastructure," he said.

"The global landscape is changing and Africa should look to BRICS and also the US. The proposed BRICS development Bank will assist African countries with their infrastructural deficiency," he added.

Most Africans were convinced that there should be skills transfer by investors, so that Africans would be able to maintain infrastructure when the investors are gone.

Sylvester Mashamba, executive director of the National Council for Construction in Zambia, urged other African countries to follow the Zambian example of skills transfer.

"The Chinese are constructing Lusaka stadium and we have Zambian engineers working with the Chinese. When the Chinese are gone, the Zambian engineers will maintain the stadium," Mashamba said.

He also disclosed that they are negotiating with the Chinese to assist in the construction of the railway line in Zambia.

The Zambian deputy high commissioner to South Africa, Joe Kaunda, said they are harmoniously working with the Chinese, while inviting other Africans who are willing to develop infrastructure to approach the Zambian government.

Africans also agreed that intra-African trade can promote the development of infrastructure.

Qedani Mahlangu of the executive committee for infrastructure in Johannesburg, told Xinhua that Africa should accelerate infrastructure growth by even promoting small projects.

"We should improve trade relations among African countries to improve our economies. As (in) South Africa there are small projects like the railway we can work with our neighbors like Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland," Mahlangu said.