With the ongoing China-Africa Cooperation Forum in Beijing shining a light on growing political and cultural ties between the two sides, sporting venue are also benefiting, as the PRC is currently helping build an Olympic level stadium in Cote D'Ivoire.

The joint project is set to serve as the centre-piece for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, with construction expected to take about 34 months, meaning the 60-thousand seat stadium should be ready well in advance of the continental championship. The new venue in Abidjan, the capital of Cote D'Ivoire, will also include training facilities for several disciplines. Those involved say the process is going well on all sides.

XING ZHENJIANG PROJECT MANAGER "We have finished the design of the Olympic Stadium, and we are working on the next stage. So far, we can say that everything is going according to plan. The stadium can be delivered in October 2019. We bought about 30% of the materials here in Abidjan. We've rented a lot of machines and gear on site, and we are working with some 30 Ivorian companies in order to be efficient and fast."

DIA ABDOULAYE CREW MEMBER "The work is going well, and we are in good harmony with the Chinese. They treat us well. At the language level, we use gestures. If it is iron, they show us the iron, when it is the wood or the hammer, they show them to us and as we speak."