The economic outlook for several African countries is expected to improve this year, according to a leading analyst.

"In 2011 there is a chance that we will get that much closer to those pre-crisis trend growth rates," said Razia Khan, head of African research for Standard Chartered Bank.

"We were looking at 6% to 7% growth rate in a number of frontier market economies -- that is the key expectation," she said.

Issuing a positive outlook, Khan, whose job is to investigate everything that contributes to Africa's economic standing, said the continent has emerged from the grips of the global financial crisis much better than many had anticipated.

"Part of it has to do with the amount of leverage in the system -- a lot of it has to do with China and the strength of China and of course the support that has given to commodity prices," Khan explained.

And while she acknowledged that factors such as political instability, food prices and inflation could hamper economic recovery, she noted: "Assuming all goes well, we are seeing good, sound growth prospects in a number of economies."

Khan sat down with CNN's Zain Verjee and gave her analysis of Africa's prospects for the coming year.

So has China and Asia helped in the recovery in Africa?

We have seen very imbalanced growth in the wake of the crisis. We've continued to see a recovery in Asia, most Asian emerging markets not only making good in the losses associated with the crisis, but seeing real growth, real value addition beyond that.

That, of course, has been a key support for Africa, although Europe, mostly the core of the Euro area, remains the key trading partner for Africa. We've seen great trade gains with the rest of the world -- especially developing Asia, especially China, and that has been a big source to African economies' performance.