Africa says big enough to cope with China courtship

By Henrique Almeida and Pascal Fletcher

LISBON (Reuters) - Africa is mature enough to cope with China's investment offensive on the continent, African leaders said on Sunday, brushing aside Western concerns that the Chinese courtship ignored human rights and good governance.

The leaders, speaking to reporters at the end of a two-day summit in Lisbon of the European Union and Africa, hailed China and fellow Asian economic powerhouse India as economic partners.

"Africa defends its interests, its economic interests. China and India have become major partners for Africa," said Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, who chided European investors and aid partners for being slow and bureaucratic.

The 27-member EU is Africa's largest trading partner with trade totaling more than 215 billion euros ($313 billion) last year. But China, which is importing minerals and oil from around the world to feed its expanding economy, leapt into third place in 2006 with 43 billion euros.

"The Chinese work everywhere, they don't make speeches, they work fast The fact is that Indian and Chinese products are much less expensive than European products," Wade said.

Many Western officials have criticized Beijing's multi-billion-dollar aid, trade and investment overtures in Africa, saying its no-strings approach sidesteps necessary safeguards to maintain transparency and avoid corruption.

Mozambican President Armando Guebuza said at the end of the Lisbon summit Africa was big enough to take care of itself.

"I see Africa as an independent, mature and responsible continent," said Guebuza. "Therefore, when Africa enters into negotiations and deals with other entities it does so as a mature player," he said, when asked about China's advances.