President Jacob Zuma

Republic of South Africa

Message From President Jacob Zuma on the Special Issue of ChinAfrica Marking the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation

In the first week of December 2015, South Africa will once again have the privilege of hosting a major international event on our soil. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit will be a landmark occasion for our continent as it will be the first time ever that a FOCAC Summit is hosted in Africa. This is an event that we as a country can all take pride in as we extend our hands in welcome and hospitality to our fellow Africans and Chinese guests as well as senior representatives from a number of international organizations.

The Johannesburg FOCAC Summit will be only the second summit in FOCAC's history and will mark this important partnership's 15th anniversary. It will give us a crucial opportunity to review the progress we have made together in terms of identifying and addressing the socio-economic challenges facing our continent. In this way, we can identify what is needed to catapult this strategic partnership to a new level.

The FOCAC relationship is based on the principles of equality and mutual respect. It has the potential to significantly enhance the African continental agenda as encapsulated in Agenda 2063. Issues such as infrastructure development, industrialization, beneficiation, agricultural modernization and food security, technology transfer and socio-economic development, as well as cooperation in areas such as health and education, have the potential to eradicate poverty and launch the continent on the path of continued high growth and socio-economic emancipation.

Let us continue to embrace the vision of a united, prosperous and peaceful Africa, a better Africa in a better world, as we work together in FOCAC for win-win cooperation for common development.

Jacob Zuma

President of the Republic of South Africa