He identified infrastructure development, information and communication technologies and energy as the key areas needing attention.
"I believe that China can add impetus to this programme as well as the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), where we have collectively agreed on the priority projects that need urgent attention," Zuma told the opening of the Fifth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing on Thursday.
Speaking highly of China-Africa relationship, Zuma said China's commitment to Africa was already been demonstrated through tangible and concrete results, particularly in terms of human resource development, debt relief and investment.
On the other hand, Africa's commitment to China's development had been demonstrated by the supply of raw materials, technology transfer and other products.
However, this trade pattern was unsustainable in the long term, said Zuma.
For this reason, he suggested that it was necessary that the two sides "lock in investments in addressing supply side constraints, diversification, and beneficiation of the resources derived from African countries through encouraging joint ventures between Africa and China".
The President was also pleased with that the AU Commission (AUC) had assumed full membership of the FOCAC process, saying that the involvement of the AUC will also deepen the China-Africa relationship and will lead to greater development corporation.
"Africa is ready to leverage on existing partnerships such as the FOCAC to fast-track Africa's developmental agenda. The implementation of programmes and projects as well as the cooperation in political, economic and social affairs prove that this cooperation is not a mere gathering, but one that is productive and progressive," added Zuma.
