Africa should host future China-Africa summits

China's diplomatic pulling power has been on display at the China-Africa summit in Beijing.

More than 50 African heads of state and government trooped to Beijing as confirmation the Chinese are reliable development partners.

The level of trust and breadth and depth of the cooperation seem to be growing with every project.

The Chinese preference for mega infrastructure projects fits into Africa's urgent desire for modernisation and the adoption of new technology which we desperately need.

But the big questions is why should such a large number of leaders fly to China when they can host a big Chinese delegation in Addis Ababa, the AU headquarters, which was coincidentally built by the Chinese.

The agenda on the table is how Africa and Chinese can cooperate for  a win-win relationship.

Africa holds vast amounts of metals key in the development of green technology, which the Chinese crave. China is a leader in solar technology which can solve Africa's power problems.

China is a trailblazer in electric vehicles technology which know how Africa can grasp for its own green future.

Africans are some of the poorest populations in the world, struggling under heavy foreign debt and the leaders. Going forward, the AU should see to it that the continent is spared the embarrassment of sending 50 plus leaders to Beijing for so long. 

African leaders ought to realise they have raw material as a bargaining chip. They are no beggars. Its a give-and-take relationship.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who was himself part of the Kenyan delegation, has suggested such summits should be held in Africa.

Ferrying an entire continent to a foreign land for a meeting that Africa can host makes no security, logistical and financial sense.

Quote of the day: "The people, and the people alone, are the motive force in the making of world history."

Mao Zedong

The Chinese revolutionary, politician and author died on September 9, 1976