AU, China ink big infrastructure deal

The African Union and China have agreed on a memorandum of cooperation to develop infrastructure in the African continent, AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Elham Ibrahim said on Wednesday.
The ambitious plan to develop road, rail and air transport routes is expected to link member states together creating new jobs and increasing the member states' GNP, Ibrahim said.
Paving new highways in Africa would improve the field of tourism, the commissioner said, adding, other sectors in the member states would be enhanced.
According to the deal, About 140 million euros would be invested in generating geothermal energy from West Africa, she said.
The memorandum of understanding was signed at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, ahead of a summit meeting of the leaders of the pan-African bloc on Friday.