The Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) summit hosted in Johannesburg was a resounding success, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Saturday evening.
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During the meeting, the Egyptian prime minister lauded the deeply-rooted relations between the two countries, the Cabinet spokesman said in statements.
In tune with the meeting in Johannesburg, of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which President Xi Jinping and his South African counterpart, Jacob Zuma are co-chairing, China, has elaborated on its collective approach towards Africa.
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Xi said China’s aid would be directed at solving the three main bottlenecks which Africa faced – the lack of infrastructure, skilled workers and capital. “If they have ears to listen, let them hear”.
“Our detractors will continue to point at China’s new appetite for mineral resources but the reality on ground did not reflect this”.
“Africa is facing a deficit in infrastructure and China’s decision to help in infrastructure development is welcome”.
Xi also promised to provide assistance to help upgrade African health care facilities, train hundreds of journalists and provide satellite reception in 10,000 African villages.
The announcement comes at a time when China, which is Africa’s largest trading partner, is seeking to boost its approach to doing business in the region.
Xi also said China would not interfere in African countries’ internal affairs, a stance that drew applause from leaders such as Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe who have faced Western criticism of their human rights record. China’s Ministry of Commerce said in November that Chinese investment in Africa dropped 40% in the first six months of this year.
China’s broader trade relationship with Africa has grown even more rapidly, to $US222bn last year-a record that made China the continent’s top trade partner for the sixth straight year.
The 10 proposed cooperation plans cover the areas of industrialization, agricultural modernization, infrastructure, poverty reduction and people-to-people exchanges.
Themed “Africa-China Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development”, the summit is the second of its kind under the 15-year-old framework of the FOCAC, which groups China, 50 African countries that have established diplomatic ties with China, and the Commission of the African Union.
“That is the potential that Africa has to develop”, he said.
China has been investing its finance and personnel in Africa for more than a decade.
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Speaking at a roundtable organized by conservation lobby Africa Wildlife Foundation (AWF) at Kruger National Park in South Africa, the campaigners from China and Africa said Beijing’s contribution was critical to strengthen protection of Africa’s wildlife species.
