Gazeta Lodz - Key pledges on sidelines of China-Africa summit

Bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Africa-China forum in Beijing this week have seen deals on projects including development, solar power and farming.

AFP takes a look at the deals thrashed out during the summit:

- Kenyan infrastructure -

Kenyan leader William Ruto said the two sides had agreed to work together on the expansion of his country's Standard Gauge Railway -- financed by Exim Bank of China -- which connects the capital Nairobi with the port city of Mombasa.

Ruto also secured a pledge from China for greater cooperation on the Rironi-Mau Summit-Malaba motorway, which Kenyan media has said is expected to cost $1.2 billion.

Last year, Ruto asked China for a $1 billion loan and the restructuring of existing debt to complete other stalled construction projects.

Kenya now owes China more than $8 billion.

Xi also promised to open up China's markets to agricultural products from Kenya, Ruto added.

- Zimbabwean avocados -

Zimbabwe secured a deal that would allow the export of fresh avocados to China, a joint statement between the two countries said, joining other African countries like Kenya and South Africa which have similar agreements.

The southern African nation also won promises from Beijing for deeper cooperation in "agriculture, mining, environmentally friendly traditional and new energy (and) transportation infrastructure", according to a joint statement by the two countries.

China will also support upgrades to Zimbabwe's industry and encourage more "competitive" Chinese enterprises to invest in the country, the statement said.

- Tanzanian railways -

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan obtained a commitment from Xi to push for new progress on a long-stalled railway connecting his country to neighbouring Zambia.

China, Tanzania and Zambia on Wednesday signed an agreement to rehabilitate the decades-old Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority project, or TAZARA.

That project -- which Zambian media has said China has pledged $1 billion towards -- is aimed at expanding transport links in the resource-rich eastern part of the continent.

- Zambian solar power -

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said he had overseen a deal between the country's state-owned power company ZESCO and Beijing's PowerChina to expand the use of rooftop solar panels in his country.

The agreement consists of the supply, delivery and installation of the solar panels which will help address the "current energy deficit" caused by drought in the country, Hichilema said in a Facebook post.

- Nigerian trade -

China and Nigeria agreed to expand a "flexible and diverse" regional monetary and financial partnership, including local currency swaps, to promote trade.

They will also collaborate on intelligence efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing, according to a joint statement.

The two countries also agreed to "deepen cooperation" in infrastructure, including "transportation, ports and free trade zones".

China said it supports importing more "quality" Nigerian products and said it would encourage more local companies to invest in the African country.

Nigeria also struck deals on exporting peanuts and nuclear energy.

G.Grabowski--GL