Many European politicians have long been skeptical about the Belt and Road Initiative, but they might be more willing to change their minds after reading a report released on Tuesday that urges the European Union to copy China's Belt and Road Initiative to better channel the billions of euros it sends as aid each year to Africa.

The report by a group led by former senior EU official and economist Thomas Wieser calls for the establishment of a "European Climate and Sustainable Development Bank" to consolidate the EU's development funding activities.

Major Western news media have described it as emulating China's Belt and Road Initiative rather than countering it as they usually do when covering major moves by the EU relating to China.

For example, when European Commission President Jean-Claude Junker proposed a new alliance with Africa in September last year to deepen their economic ties, the BBC News' headline read: "Juncker unveils EU's Africa plan to counter China".

It seemed to suggest that EU is using Africa as a geopolitical tool and battleground, which is totally untrue. After I checked the EU strategy, I found that it includes facilitating African students to study at European universities and help for Africa improve the climate for business and increased financial assistance as well as a $46 billion in grants over the seven years from 2021.

I had my fingers crossed for the Juncker plan. But instead of calling it a move to counter China, a more apt description would be that the plan complements the Belt and Road Initiative.

China and the EU could therefore join hands to help African development.

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