China is playing an important role in helping Africa to industrialize, said Raphael Kaplinsky, a professor of international development at the United Kingdom's Open University.

He said Africa is increasingly able to implement industrialization policies with help from Chinese investment and aid, which are offered without political conditions, unlike Western assistance.

"In previous periods, Africa had to accept a series of policies which were imposed on Africa largely under the dominance of the United States and the so-called Washington consensus. But China's growing economic and political roles globally means that Africa now has an alternative," Kaplinsky said.