Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma is to host his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on a two-day State visit from 2 - 3 December.
“The visit aims to finalise the China-South Africa 5-10 Year Framework on Cooperation that will further entrench the implementation of our agreements since the conclusion of the Beijing Declaration in 2010,” said Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe.
Addressing a post Cabinet media briefing in Cape Town, Minister Radebe said the visit will further deepen and expand on the comprehensive strategic partnership that the two countries share.
“South Africa’s relations with China remain central to realising its developmental agenda through its foreign policy as it increases efforts to implement the National Development Plan (NDP), collaborate in agriculture, environmental affairs, trade and industry and finance as the country continues to drive the agenda of moving South Africa forward.
“It is also provides an opportunity to review progress on existing areas of trade and cooperation between the two nations, and to expedite and finalise new areas of cooperation,” he said.
President Zuma is also expected to lead a South African delegation to the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 11th Session of the Conference of Parties serving as the Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP11) to be held from 30 November to 11 December 2015 in Paris, France.
The international negotiations for a new legal agreement will frame the response to climate change, which will come into effect from 2020 onwards.
In line with South Africa’s national interest as an African and developing country that will require post-2020 support, South Africa will continue to defend the UNFCCC’s core principles of equity and differentiation.
Minister Radebe said that at the Group of 77+ China meeting, South Africa will seek to maintain and strengthen the unity of developing countries to obtain a Paris Agreement that is fair, ambitious, science-based and that produces the development space of developing countries.
16 Days
President Zuma will launch the 16 Days of Activism Campaign for No Violence against Women and Children campaign on 25 November 2015 in Naauwpoort, Mahikeng, in the North West.
This year’s campaign will be held under the theme ‘Count Me In: Together Moving a Non-Violent South Africa Forward’.
This campaign is commemorated as part of the 365 Days of Activism, which is a continuous campaign that raises awareness on violence against women and children, and mobilises individuals to be counted in the year-long activism.
Cabinet calls on all South Africans to support the campaign and to use this period to mobilise communities and partner with government to end violence against women and children through #CountMeIn.
World Aids Day
South Africa will mark World Aids Day under the theme ‘Towards an HIV-Free Generation: Rise. Act. Protect. Zero’ – which is a call to action by communities.
This year’s theme is informed by the United Nations World AIDS Day theme for 2011 to 2015: “Getting to Zero”.
The 2015 World AIDS Day will further strengthen the dialogue around stigma and discrimination, and mobilise communities to respond to and expand access to prevention, treatment and support services.
The main event to commemorate World Aids Day will be held in KwaZulu-Natal. This will set the tone for South Africa’s hosting of the 21st International AIDS Conference at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban from 17 to 22 July 2016.
South Africa continues to make progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS, having expanded the country’s HIV treatment programme, with over three million people on antiretroviral treatment, further reducing mother-to-child transmission and recording improved tuberculosis indicators.
Imbizo Week
Cabinet also encouraged South Africans to participate in the izimbizo events planned across the country during National Imbizo Focus Week from 30 November to 6 December.
The platform enables citizens to engage with members of the Executive.
The National Imbizo Focus Week will take place under the theme ‘Together we move South Africa forward’ and will update communities on government’s implementation of the Nine-Point Plan towards igniting economic growth and creating jobs.
Members of the Executive will use the opportunity to galvanise community participation in tackling various social ills, including matters relating to violence against women and children. – SAnews.gov.za
