The policies China is pursuing in Africa are in the continent's best interest, Monday's The Herald commented in a reader's letter.

The newspaper said what Africa requires is proper development. China offered things such as the building of dams, selling of tractors, and fertilizers paid for by China's imports from Africa.

While China is forging real economic development in Africa by investing in the building of infrastructure necessary for economic development, Western countries prefer to send four-wheel drive Landcruisers for aid agencies or non-government organizations for various activities, the newspaper stressed.

Besides bringing in their Landcruisers, aid agencies are not known for engaging in real economic development. They source their handouts from Western countries but do not encourage the local population to be self-sufficient in food production by providing tractors, fertilizers and seeds, it said.

"To make matters worse, the Western countries bar products from Africa from entering their markets, prevent Africa from developing," the newspaper added.

China does not interfere with the politics of Africa but Western countries sponsor opposition political parties so that the continent can remain in turmoil. In addition, the best-educated people from Africa are then welcome in Western countries while China does not encourage educated Africans from leaving their countries, it said.

"How then can Africa develop if Western countries poach the most educated while sending their aid agencies to the continent under the pretext of helping the poor?" the newspaper asked.

The newspaper concluded that Africa wants to see more tractors than Landcruisers in their rural areas.

Source: Xinhua