Chinese analysts say US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's ongoing seven-nation visit to Africa reflects the US' growing reliance on African oil and gas. But they also say the continent doesn't represent a "zero-sum" game between US and China interests, but a win-win opportunity for both.

Xia Yishan, an expert at China Energy Strategy Research Center with the China Institute of International Studies, said the US has been watching China's cooperation with Africa on oil development in the last few years.

But Xia insisted that China's increasing investment in Africa's oil industry is not a headache for the US.