Clinton, who was in Zambia attending a two-day Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum, highlighted the American government's drive to help Africa accelerate impressive economic development. AGOA was signed into law by U.S. President Bill Clinton in 2000, and gives trade preferences to some 37 eligible African countries including Zambia, South Africa, Sudan and Ethiopia in terms of exporting their products into American markets. After Zambia, Clinton also visited Ethiopia and Tanzania.

On the other hand, in 2009 alone, China pumped $10 billion in investment and development into Africa's telecom sector and extractive industry, making China the largest single investor in Africa.

The U.S. is concerned that China's quick economic push into Africa risks disturbing efforts to help the region to develop a more mature and transparent economy, Clinton said.

In a seeming showdown with Clinton at a joint press conference however, Zambian President Rupiah Banda said, "Africa's ties with China were healthy and long-standing."

Banda said Zambia has been in a close relationship with China since before the country's independence almost 48 years ago, adding that China helped many African countries to weather the recent global financial crisis.