FOCAC Summit expected to elevate China-African cooperation to higher level: minister

PRETORIA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit is expected to take Sino-Africa relations to a higher level, a South African cabinet minister said on Friday.

The FOCAC Summit is to be held in the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on December 4-5 under the theme: "Africa-China Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development", South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said at a press briefing in Pretoria.

"It is envisaged that the Johannesburg Summit will

elevate the Africa-China relationship to a new level that would have a beneficial impact and give impetus to Africa's developmental agenda," she said.

Africa and China have forged strong economic relations, particularly since 2009 when China became the continent's largest trading partner, Nkoana-Mashabane said.

The FOCAC Summit, she said, is expected to open new avenues of cooperation and open new opportunities for both China and Africa.

"The FOCAC platform provides an opportunity to further stimulate growth and unlock new opportunities between China and Africa on trade and other matters,"the minister said.

She said the Summit is historic, being the first to be held in Africa.

It is expected that African heads of state and government, representatives from the African Union (AU), heads of regional organizations and multilateral organizations will participate in the summit.

The Summit is expected to adopt the Johannesburg Declaration and Action Plan, which will outline specific measures aimed at consolidating the growing mutual partnership between Africa and China, according to the minister.

"The FOCAC platform is based on the principles of South-South cooperation and mutual and equal benefit, with a view to addressing various areas of concern for Africa's socio-economic development and integration,"said Nkoana-Mashabane.

These include deepening cooperation in the areas of infrastructure development, debt relief, industrialisation, investment promotion, market access expansion, agriculture, science and technology, health, education, and people-to-people cultural exchanges, among others.

Nkoana-Mashabane said that as core-chair of the FOCAC, South Africa would work closely with China to ensure that the Summit be a success.

She added South Africa's overall medium to long-term strategic objective with regard to the FOCAC, as co-chair, is to work closely with China to ensure that future FOCAC declarations and action plans are effectively implemented in line with the AU's Agenda for Regional and Continental Integration and Development, through its flagship programmes: New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and Agenda 2063, including the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063.

Some of the projects identified in the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063 include: an integrated high-speed train network; the Great Inga Dam; a single African aviation market, free movement of persons and the African Passport, the creation of a continental free trade area; and silencing the guns by 2020.

Nkoana-Mashabane said South Africa will endeavour to ensure that the African Agenda is realised through the FOCAC Partnership, specifically in supporting relevant African programmes aimed at eradicating poverty, addressing inequalities of income and opportunity, creating jobs, improving habitats and access to water, sanitation and electricity, among others.