African leaders descend on China's capital this week, seeking funds for big-ticket infrastructure projects as they eye mounting great power competition over resources and influence on the continent. Tang Xiaoyang, a professor at Beijing's Tsinghua University, says China can benefit from Africa's growth: "We are just partners with you while you are developing. We are also benefiting from it." But analysts fear African nations could be forced to pick sides. "African countries lack leverage against China," Ovigwe Eguegu, a policy analyst at consultancy Development Reimagined, tells AFP. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES