President Museveni this week returned from the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Sharm el Sheik, Egypt, full of praises for the rising power in the East. The summit will have been watched very closely by other western powers which have traditionally enjoyed the most lucrative trade deals with the continent as well as the political and security deals that underline the trade.

It was also watched very closely by African countries who recognise in China a new partner for development. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao did not disappoint, announcing a $10 billion lending facility to African countries at concessionary rates. China's growth as an economic and military power has the potential to help African countries achieve their own development agendas, especially in financing infrastructure.

In a time of a global credit crunch and nervous investors, China's $10 billion credit facility - which is about as much as the World Bank advanced to the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa last year - is a welcome financing opportunity for the continent. News that the Chinese are willing to invest in Uganda's infrastructure, including a toll road from Entebbe to Kampala, should also be applauded, but with a proviso.

China's see-no-evil, hear-no-evil policy means that it can finance projects in African countries without asking questions about human rights or governance as many western donors do. While many African leaders welcome this non-interference in the sovereignty of their countries, it takes away some leverage by external actors to persuade or otherwise compel the leaders in those countries to treat their citizens better.

Furthermore, Chinese contractors in many African countries, to wit Angola, tend to bring along many of their unskilled and semi-skilled workers to do menial work on the projects they fund, denying locals the opportunity to acquire skills. None of these challenges are incurable. We should welcome the Chinese investment but we must clearly define our interests and work towards aligning them with those of the Chinese - and other donors.

For instance, if the Chinese are interested in exploring for oil in the country, let them in, but ensure that the oil is processed locally and not just export as crude. After all, cooperation suggests a win-win situation.

SOURCE: All Africa