Pretoria - The upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, which starts on Friday in Sandton, will be a milestone and historic event which will usher in a new era for development of China–Africa relations.
Government says the summit will also send a strong message to the world that China and Africa are working hard to achieve "win-win" cooperation and common development.
This is according to China and South Africa, who will co-chair the China-Africa leaders’ summit in Johannesburg.
This will be the second summit in the 15 years since the forum’s inception, and the first to be held in Africa.
The summit is seen as a crucial platform for collective dialogue between China and Africa and an effective mechanism for closer practical cooperation.
Speaking to media on Wednesday at the Union Buildings, President Xi Jinping called on leaders of African countries to use the summit to “renew friendship and explore cooperation with China, while charting the course for China-Africa friendly and practical cooperation in various fields”.
The summit, he said, is important for the relationships of development with China and a more inclusive and sustainable development summit of the world.
President Xi was confident the summit will be a success, and so is President Jacob Zuma, who said South Africa looks forward to hosting the event.
The two leaders met in Pretoria on Wednesday for President Xi's State visit ahead of the summit.
The visit saw the two countries sign agreements worth R94 billion in various fields such as industrialisation and processing; enhancement of cooperation in Special Economic Zones (SEZs); marine cooperation; infrastructure development, human resources cooperation and financial cooperation.
Both Presidents were upbeat, saying relations are at their best level ever.
The two developing giants also used their meeting to discuss international developments such as the UN climate change conference - COP21 - which is currently taking place in Paris.
The impacts of climate change affect everyone, said President Zuma. He said African countries are already experiencing some of the worst effects of climate change.
“We must anticipate that these impacts will worsen over time, unless global greenhouse gas emissions are drastically reduced, with developed countries taking the lead. We urge all parties in Paris to put the interests of the world first and not allow national interests to make it difficult to reach an agreement.”
President Zuma was optimistic that a legally binding agreement will be reached in Paris.
“We have to act now before it is too late," said President Zuma.
President Zuma and President Xi also touched on BRICS as well as the reform and expansion of the UN Security Council to include other regions of the globe, especially Africa with its one billion people.
They also discussed the need to promote global peace and security and condemned the recent acts of terrorism in France, Nigeria and other countries, saying global action against terrorism is necessary within the ambit of the United Nations.
Ahead of the talks, President Zuma hosted a welcome ceremony for President Xi, who arrived in Pretoria earlier on Wednesday.
He was welcomed by the traditional guard of honour and a 21-gun salute. A State banquet was held for President Xi and his delegation. – SAnews.gov.za
