China praised for G20 invites

China has shown unparalleled leadership by inviting more developing countries to the G20 Summit scheduled to take place in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

Macky Sall, president of Senegal and chair of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, an African Union development program, said China's move showed its strong commitment to promote sustainable development by including new partners.

Sall believes that increasing Africa's participation comes at an opportune time amid global concerns about sluggish world growth. Africa and other developing nations cannot be put on the sidelines if global growth is to be put back on course, the African president said, adding that China candidly understands this and knows that the continent has to participate proactively in the global agenda. "We can defend our position and highlight challenges such as emerging laws that encourage illicit financial outflows, which is crippling our development ambitions. This is the best platform to bring the African voice. Africa is asking for partnership and China has been in the forefront championing a win-win approach," the president said.

According to a United Nations report, the continent loses $50 billion every year in tax evasion and fraud.

Zhang Ming, China's vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, said the host country has taken into consideration the needs of other emerging nations and considers them equal partners in addressing world economic recovery. "If African countries continue to be left behind, then global growth faces a bleak future. This is the obligation and duty China has taken upon itself," he said.

Akiwumi Adesina, president of African Development Bank, said the forum is an important platform where the presence of more African countries would see the continent's development agenda discussed. "I know there has been a big focus by G20 in addressing Africa's infrastructure deficit. I expect and hope that the forum will engage on how they will accelerate investments to address the yawning gap," said the president.