Ministers from Africa and China converged in their 6th Conference of China-Africa Cooperation Forum (FOCAC), Thursday, 3rd December 2015, at International Conference Center, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Pretoria, South Africa. The Conference is in preparation for the 2nd FOCAC Summit, which will witness African and Chinese leaders meet in Africa for the first time in the 15-year history of the Forum to look at ways of deepening cooperation.
Officially opening the meeting, H.E.Ms. Maite Nkoana- Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa said in the next ten years; both China and Africa aspire to reach new milestones. The quest for industrialization, skills development, FDI in manufacturing, agro-processing and skills transfer programmes will provide ample opportunity for advancing the interests of the two sides in a mutually beneficial manner, she added.
The Minister noted that the FOCAC Partnership has the potential to help Africa achieve the SDGs and the First Ten Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063, as well as Africa’s flagship projects, and programmes and projects outlined in NEPAD.
On his part, H.E. Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of China said in his opening remarks “we have reasons to believe that the joint efforts of China and Africa , the Summit will be a historic gathering to strengthen China Africa Solidarity”. He further noted that his country hoped to deepen existing relations with African States.
During their meeting, the African and Chinese Ministers will review and adopt drafts of the two outcome documents of the Summit: Declaration of the Johannesburg Summit and the Johannesburg Action Plan (2016-2018), which outline specific measures aimed at consolidating the growing mutual partnership between Africa and China for the next three years.
They will also review implementation of the follow-up action of the Fifth Ministerial Conference, various agreements signed since the 1st FOCAC Summit in 2006, and review and adopt draft agenda and program of the Johannesburg Summit.
Held under the theme: “Africa-China Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development”, the 2nd FOCAC Summit is expected to open new avenues of cooperation and new opportunities for both China and Africa, which will elevate the relationship to a new level that would have a beneficial impact and give impetus to Africa’s development, in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063, including its the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan.
The First FOCAC ministerial conference was held in Beijing in October 2000. This was followed by the second meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2003. Beijing hosted the 3rd Ministerial and a full China-Africa Summit in 2006. The 4th FOCAC ministerial meeting was held in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt in 2009, and the Fifth FOCAC was hosted by China in Beijing in 2012.
The 6th FOCAC Ministerial Conference will conclude its deliberations and submit its report for adoption to the Johannesburg Summit, which will open on 4 December 2015 in Sandton
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