ADDIS ABABA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Stating that some Africa's partners have given priority to infrastructural development in Africa, Hailemariam Desalegn, Ethiopian Prime Minister and the chairman of the African Union (AU), on Saturday expressed appreciation to China for investing billions in the sector on the African continent.

Hailemariam was speaking to a special AU summit called for the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Organization for African Unity (OAU/AU) at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he highlighted infrastructural development as one of important areas to be addressed in the next years and decades to accelerate growth and unleash economic potentials of the continent.

Ahead of the ordinary session of the 21st AU summit scheduled for May 26, the special summit was held debating on the Pan- Africanism and African Renaissance which is the theme of the summit and also the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the OAU/ AU.

In his remarks at the opening of the special summit, Hailemariam noted that infrastructure is a sector neglected over the past decades, and lack of adequate infrastructure is the nemesis of development, a difficult bottleneck, which arrests the growth and transformation of Africa's economies.

"We need, therefore, to undertake massive investment in infrastructure to accelerate our growth and unleash our economic potentials. Establishing national and regional networks of roads, railway, telecommunication, electricity and other infrastructures will certainly go a long way in fostering regional integration," said Hailemariam.

"It is encouraging to note that some of our friends and partners have given priority to infrastructural development in Africa in terms of their strategic partnership with our continent. In this regard, I wish to take this opportunity to express my deepest appreciation to China for investing billions in this sector to assist us in our development endeavors," he noted.

Agriculture sector, building human and technological capability, private sector, as well as democratic governance and popular participation are the other four areas, for which the Chairman called measures to be taken in the next years and decades in Africa.