Speaking to a German newspaper, Mr Paul Kagame – seen in the West as one of Africa’s more dynamic leaders – was as critical of the West as he was generous in praise of China.
“The Chinese bring what Africa needs: investment and money for governments and companies,” he told business newspaper Handelsblatt.
“China is investing in infrastructure and building roads,” he said, adding that European and American involvement “has not brought Africa forward”.
“Western firms have to a large extent polluted Africa and they are still doing it,” Mr Kagame said.
“Think of the dumping of nuclear waste in the Ivory Coast or the fact that Somalia is being used as a rubbish bin by European firms.”
Although Rwanda received substantial international aid in the wake of the 1994 genocide, which left more than 800,000 dead, Mr Kagame told Handelsblatt that relations based more on trade than aid were now the most useful to Africa.
“I would prefer the Western world to invest in Africa rather than handing out development aid,” he said.
“There is a need for help – but it should be implemented in such a way as to enable trade and build up companies.”
The Rwandan leader also said that high trade tariffs prevented African producers from gaining equitable access to global markets.
“It would help Africa much more if industrialised countries allowed us the same trade rights as they give to each other,” Mr Kagame said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8301826.stm