South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma are in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, until Tuesday, attending the China-Africa Cooperation Forum. The forum seeks to build common ground on ways to advance the interests of the developing world in the international political and economic system.
In a statement from Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa, the department said that the forum represents “a major commitment by China to Africa’s developmental agenda, namely the New Partnership for Africa’s Development”.
While noting that China’s resources are limited, growth trends suggest that it could play a key role as a source of direct investment in Africa “and as a market for African products”.
“The challenge for both Africa and China is to ensure that the forum is exploited as a vehicle for synchronising Africa’s aspirations with those of China,” the department said.
The Zumas arrived in Addis Ababa on Sunday for three days.
South Africa’s participation in the forum was determined by the objectives to commit China to the “practical implementation of a mutually beneficial trade regime with Africa” and to realign China’s development assistance policies to support the priorities of Africa and to be conductive to the continent’s economic development, said the department. — I-Net Bridge