In Ethiopia, China has built industrial parks which are now producing footwear for both domestic and export markets.
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The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has ended in Johannesburg, South Africa, with the leaders present endorsing the declaration called “the Johannesburg plan of action”.
Xi said his country will negotiate free-trade agreements with Africa to promote imports from the continent and support the agriculture industry to help create more local jobs.
The two-day FOCAC meeting that opens on Friday will be the second time China has brought together African leaders since the forum was launched in Beijing in 2000.
The summit, which ends in Sandton today, will reflect the need for these partners to address the complex, growing scourge of terrorism.
South Africa’s Foreign Minister Nhlanhla Nene, whose country secured $6.5 billion worth of deals with China on the eve of the gathering, said that the Asian giant’s current outlook was an opportunity for Africa.
He was speaking after his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping said Beijing will increase its cooperation with Africa on peace and security.
President Muhammadu Buhari says China remains a strategic and dependable ally in his administration’s determination to change the direction and content of governance including the management of national resources with priority on accountability, transparency and result-orientation in governance.
On Friday, Xi announced a package of programs to strengthen China-Africa cooperation and support Africa’s development in the coming three years at the opening ceremony, winning waves of applause.
African countries were expected to push for loan moratoriums following weak metal and crude prices that have weakened their currencies. “If the colonizers had ears, they should listen to President Xi’s speech”.
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.
Ahead of FOCAC, China emphasised it had delivered more than $117 million in aid to affected areas during the Ebola crisis in West Africa, and also sent hundreds of medical workers to help.
Minister Bimha said Africa shares common issues around industrialisation.
“Currently, both China and Africa are at the crucial stage of development and have formulated ambitious development strategies”.
The Chinese leader made the announcement at a major summit between China and Africa in Johannesburg.
“As we speak, 90 percent of China’s overseas peacekeepers are performing duties in Africa and the accumulated number has reached more than 30 000”.
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Matjila said these new measures were in line with China’s commitments at the recent G20 summit in Turkey to move the developing world up China’s global supply chains.
