An authority on international aid believes the growth in Chinese aid to Angola is among the signs that China is about to supplant the United States as the main donor of aid to much of the developing world, CNN reports.

The website of the US television network quotes AidData Director of Policy Analysis Samantha Custer as saying: “If the US follows through on its rhetoric and scales back its global footprint, China may be well positioned to step into the breach and cement its role as a preferred donor and lender to the developing world.”

Ms Custer said Angola received US$16.5 billion worth of aid from China between 2000 and 2014, making it the third-biggest recipient of Chinese aid.