Forum on China–Africa Cooperation to advance China-Africa relations

World Today

Chinese PresidentXi Jinping(R) meets with South African President Jacob Zuma in Ufa,Russia, July 9, 2015. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Jacob Zuma will co-chair the The Second Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Johannesburg, South Africa from December 4-5 in a historic meeting.

It’s the first time the ministerial meeting has been upgraded to a leader’s summit, reflecting the growing relations between the two sides, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers his speech during the opening ceremony of the Johannesburg Summit for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, Friday Dec. 4, 2015. (AP Photo)

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers his speech during the opening ceremony of the Johannesburg Summit, Friday Dec. 4, 2015. (AP Photo)

Called “Africa-China Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development”, the summit is only the second time in the 15-year history of FOCAC that the leaders are meeting together. The first was in 2006 in Beijing, China.

The summit was preceded by the 6th Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC.

President Xi will introduce China’s new ideas for cooperation to African heads of state and government, representatives from the African Union, and other regional organizations will attend the event.

President Xi Jinping and African leaders at FOCAC.

“China will also propose a series of cooperation plans, including industrial production shifts, infrastructure construction, human resource exploration, facilitating investment, green development, finance servicing, and peace and security. Cooperation between China and Africa is built upon equality and mutual development,” Wang Yi said.

China, the world’s largest economy, is currently the leading source of foreign direct investment to Africa that has led to great economic growth. China has provided significant financial and technical aid to help bridge Africa’s infrastructure deficit.

The upcoming FOCAC summit will provide a platform for political leaders, policymakers, and scholars from China and Africa to explore initiatives that will continue to revitalize a longstanding partnership.

Information compiled from Xinhua, China Daily, focac.org, china.org and CCTV NEWS. –>