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African Politicians, Scholars Laud Chinese President’s Speech at FOCAC Summit

“He specifically lauded China for the vision behind the establishment of FOCAC as a platform for higher level Africa-China relationship”, Adesina said in the statement.

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Xi also promised to provide assistance to help upgrade African healthcare facilities, train hundreds of journalists and provide satellite reception in 10,000 African villages.

He stressed China’s adherence to the principle of noninterference in internal affairs of African countries amid enhancing economic ties during his Africa tour, which also took him to Zimbabwe’s capital Harare and South Africa’s executive capital Pretoria.

Speaking at the conclusion of a landmark Summit of the Chinese and African leaders under the auspices of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the Foreign Minister said Beijing was willing to make itself the ideal partner of Africa on achieving its desire to grow economically and politically.

“We are going to cooperate with China…in modernizing agriculture, infrastructure, energy, training of the young people and culture”, Zuma said.

China’s president has pledged $60bn to development in Africa, as part of what Chinese and African leaders called “win-win cooperation”.

He said the momentum of rapid growth in Africa was “unstoppable”.

The two countries signed 12 landmark agreements to fund vital projects in key economic sectors.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) and South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane attend a joint press conference after the closing of the Johannesburg summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dec. 5, 2015.

China is willing to encourage more Chinese companies to actively participate in the process of industrialization and modernization of the remote continent, he added.

Experts on Saturday hailed China’s decision to strengthen its cooperation with Africa through a rollout of 10 major China-Africa cooperation plans and an offer of 60 billion US dollars of funding support. “China has put forward the two centenary goals and the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee has proposed the 13th Five-Year Programme”, he said.

With China’s recent economic woes, the Washington DC-based economist was expecting a more modest fund.

“Africa and China are together a fraternal community with a shared and prosperous future”, he said.

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“China is actively implementing the “Initiative on China-Africa Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Security” and has provided military and financial assistance to the AU for peacekeeping missions in relevant countries and the building of the African Standby Force and the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crisis”, he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday during the Forum on China Africa Cooperation