Private sector vital in promoting China-Africa win-win cooperation

LUSAKA -- The private sector in both China and Africa could play a vital role in promoting China-Africa win-win cooperation through the establishment of joint ventures and transfer of technology, an industry official said on Wednesday.

Yusuf Dodia, chairperson of the Private Sector Development Association (PSDA), said the private sector in China and Africa need to embrace the win-win concept by entering into joint ventures as well as ensuring transfer of technology and skills.

In an interview ahead of the China-Africa summit to be held in South Africa this week, the official said the private sector in China should leverage its technology and skills advancement by helping the private sector in Africa.

The Johannesburg summit, expected to be attended by leaders from across the continent and Chinese President Xi Jinping, will be held under the theme "China-Africa move Forward Hand in Hand for Win-win Cooperation and Common Development"

"The private sector in China should take advantage of this win-win cooperation by helping the private sector in Africa with technology transfer. Africa is blessed with abundant natural resources but the major problem is lack of technology and skills to add value to these resources," he said.

Joint ventures between Chinese and African companies will go a long way in promoting industrialization in Africa, a move that will go a long way in promoting development.

The official further refuted reports that China is flooding Africa with cheap labor, saying that most of workers coming from China to work in Africa were skilled in various fields.

According to him, Chinese experts working in Africa were helping in skills transfer as they impart skills in African workers as they work together.