Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers his speech during the opening ceremony of the Johannesburg Summit, Friday Dec. 4, 2015.
The second summit of the Forum on China- Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the 6th Ministreal conference was held from December 4 to 5, 2015 in Johannesberg, South Africa. The theme for the summit was ‘Africa-China progressing together: win-win cooperation for common development’. Heads of states/Governments of various African countries attended the summit along with President of China Xi Jinping. President of South Africa Jacob Zuma, President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe also attended the summit. The leaders expressed their desire to enhance cooperation in various spheres, while the President of China, Xi Jinping also announced aid and credit amounting to 60 billion US $ during the summit.
The summit was chaired by the President of China Xi Jinping and Co-chaired by the President of South Africa Jacob Zuma. The Chinese President also announced 10 billion US $ for a China-Africa Production Capacity Cooperation Fund. China will also cancel outstanding debts in form of bilateral Governmental zero interest loans borrowed by least developed countries of Africa that mature in 2015. The President of China Xi Jinping also announced launching of 200 ‘Happy life’ projects in Africa funded by China that focuses on women and children. The Chinese President pledged an amount of 60 Billion US $ in grants and credit to Africa.
Chinese President while addressing the summit of African leaders announced that the trade and commerce between China and Africa has been increasing and has reached 221.9 Billion US $ in 2014. He also noted that Chinese investment in Africa had reached 101 Billion US $, and more than 3,100 enterprises have opened up in Africa as a result of this. China is presently the largest trading partner of Africa in the world, and trade between the China and Africa is slated to reach 300 Billion US $ in 2015. The President of China Xi Jinping called the cooperation between China and Africa as an fine example of south-south cooperation or cooperation between the non-developed countries.
The summit has great significance for company’s promotion of hospitals construction and participation in railway development in Africa.
File photo shows national flags of FOCAC members
