FOCAC Beijing summit to elevate China-Africa ties to a new level: FM

PRETORIA — State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on June 4 expressed belief that the upcoming Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will elevate China-Africa Comprehensive Strategic and Cooperative Partnership to a new level.

The Chinese top diplomat, who is attending the Formal Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs, answered a question raised by the media about the FOCAC Beijing summit to be held in September.

He pointed out that as the key platform for the collective dialogue and cooperation between China and African countries, the forum has already become a model of South-South cooperation and a banner of international cooperation with Africa.

During the past six years when South Africa has been serving as co-chair of the forum, China and South Africa have been closely coordinating and actively promoting the development of the forum mechanism so as to advance China-Africa solidarity and cooperation, Wang said.

After South Africa successfully hosted the FOCAC Johannesburg summit in December 2015, efforts to implement the outcomes have been carried out smoothly with tangible and effective results, he said.

"In keeping with the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, we are now making all efforts to advance the preparatory work for the Beijing summit," Wang said.

The work related to the invitation of African leaders to attend the summit by President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been completed and most African leaders have confirmed their attendance, he said.

The State councilor said that in light of the new changes in the international situation and the new demand for growth on the African continent, the summit will unveil new measures to step up China-Africa cooperation across the board.

"We expect that the African leaders will gather in Beijing to elevate China-Africa Comprehensive Strategic and Cooperative Partnership to a new level," he said.

It is believed that with the joint efforts by China and African countries, the FOCAC Beijing Summit will surely be another historic event to strengthen China-Africa solidarity and cooperation, he added.