China is expected to upgrade its industrial cooperation with Africa by signing infrastructure agreements with several African countries in the road, railway, electrical power and aviation sectors.

China hopes to actively take part in the continent’s infrastructure development and to promote connectivity. According to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, in order to create jobs and boost consumption, China will help develop labour-intensive manufacturing. It will also create new investment and financing means to help Africa address shortfalls.

Keqiang is currently on a tour in Africa which will take him to Ethiopia, Nigeria, Angola and Kenya. During the tour he will sign about 60 deals with African countries in the infrastructure, petroleum and agriculture sectors.

According to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China has been Africa’s biggest trading partner for the past five years. Currently, there are more than 2 500 Chinese companies operating in Africa.

Keqiang said the problems encountered from both sides were issues the Chinese government takes very seriously. “Problems, after all, are isolated cases in the whole picture of China-Africa cooperation … Instead of dodging or covering them up, China is willing to sit down with African countries and resolve these issues through earnest consultation in the spirit of mutual respect, pragmatism and efficiency,” the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation reported him saying.

Keqiang will deliver a speech on Sino-African cooperation at the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia.