SA readies for FOCAC summit

South Africa is busy preparing for the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit.

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Johannesburg - South Africa is busy preparing for the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said on Friday.

She was speaking after meeting with Yang Jiechi, State Councillor of the People's Republic of China, in Johannesburg to discuss details in relation to the summit scheduled for December 4-5 in Johannesburg.

Nkoana-Mashabane also said Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to South Africa during the summit.

She said they are excited about the upcoming visit by Chinese president who will be hosted by South African President Jacob Zuma.

Described her meeting with Yang Jiechi as “productive,” Nkoana-Mashabane said,”We had a good interaction with Yang Jiechi, the State Councillor of the People's Republic of China, a former Foreign Minister who is a good friend of South Africa. This was a continuation of the consultations before the FOCAC Summit.”

The theme for the FOCAC Summit is: “Africa-China Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development.”

Nkoana-Mashabane said their discussion also touched some specific areas of cooperation.

“We looked at the draft outcome documents and Programme of Action. When done, we will take them to the embassies for the continuation of consultations.

“We also picked the areas of cooperation; these are economic cooperation, integration, industrialization, beneficiation, health, poverty eradication and peace and security in Africa. These are the exciting things we want to do with China,” Nkoana-Mashabane told the media.

She said South Africa was also having consultations with other African countries for the FOCAC Summit.

ANA-Xinhua