African Union agrees 'substantive' transport deal with China

China and the African Union have agreed on an ambitious plan to develop road, rail and air transport routes to link the capitals across the continent.

African Union chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma praised the proposal as the most substantive project the AU has ever signed with a partner.

The memorandum of understanding was signed at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, ahead of a summit of the leaders of the 54-nation pan-African bloc on Friday.

The Chinese Vice Minister for foreign affairs, Zhang Ming after the signing ceremony said the aviation agreement marks a new area for co-operation between the AU and China.

NEWS24