China locomotive of world economic growth, says economist

LUANDA -- China is the "locomotive of world economic growth" due to its remarkable progress in science, technology, innovation, and export capacity, an Angolan economist has said.

"No country can compare to China in terms of economic dynamism," Manuel Jose Alves da Rocha, director of the Center for Studies and Scientific Research at the Catholic University of Angola, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

The International Monetary Fund considers China a key contributor to global growth in the coming year as its economy is projected to grow 5.2 percent in 2023 and 4.5 percent in 2024.

"The fact that an economy the size of China is growing at 5 percent to 6 percent is absolutely significant," the economist said.

Research on the Chinese economy should focus not only on the economic data of a given year but also on the dynamics of development, he said, noting that African countries, including Angola, can learn from the Chinese model beyond China's loans and grants.

The economist highlighted that infrastructure development has been the key to China's economic growth and a significant factor in China's cooperation with African countries.

"China has paid particular attention to infrastructure, which is a decisive factor for the growth of African economies," he said.

"I think that the Chinese experience is rich in lessons, and African countries, particularly Angola, should carefully study the Chinese experience," he added.