Media Release
03 December 2014
President Zuma arrives in Beijing on a State Visit to the People's Republic of China
His Excellency President Jacob Zuma has arrived in Beijing on his State Visit to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) scheduled for 04 – 05 December 2014.
President Zuma will meet with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global issues.
President Zuma stated that: “One of the major objectives of the State Visit is to ensure that our relations with China remain central to realising our developmental agenda through our foreign policy, as we increase our efforts to implement the National Development Plan (NDP), cooperating in the areas of agriculture, environmental affairs, trade and industry as well as finance.”
The visit will afford President Zuma and his delegation an opportunity to engage with the Government of China on the following areas of interest:
- Strengthening of bilateral relations with the People’s Republic of China, focusing on priority issues of development in South Africa and Africa;
- Adopting the China-South Africa 5-10 Year Framework on Cooperation that will further entrench the implementation of agreements entered into since the conclusion of the Beijing Declaration in 2010 and expand on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership;
- Obtaining support for South Africa’s industrialisation agenda by securing investment in the development of science and technology, agro-processing; mining and mineral beneficiation, renewable energy, finance and tourism;
- Reviewing progress and cooperation in infrastructure development. This includes reviewing progress in the locomotive procurement project, particularly cooperation in equipment manufacturing and the localisation of procurement through joint ventures with South African companies; and
- Addressing Africa’s developmental agenda through South Africa and China’s co- chairship of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) until 2018.
South Africa and China share a sound political and economic relationship, with China becoming South Africa’s single largest trading partner in the world, and South Africa being China’s largest trading partner in Africa.
The accession by South Africa to the membership of BRICS was an important milestone in the relations between the two countries. It was in December 2010 during China's tenure as Chair of what was then BRIC, that South Africa became a member of this important grouping, BRICS.
The recent establishment of the BRICS Development Bank to be headquartered in Shanghai and the decision to locate its African Regional Centre in South Africa not only raises the level of cooperation between China and South Africa in addressing global challenges, but it is yet another clear indicator of South Africa’s growing significance in driving the African Agenda.
President Zuma will be accompanied by Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; Mr Jeff Radebe, Minister in the Presidency; Mr Nhlanhla Nene, Minister of Finance; Mr Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry; Ms Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs; Ms Dipuo Peters, Minister of Transport; as well as Mr Senzeni Zokwana, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
The Presidential delegation will also include South African business persons, who will attend the South Africa-China Business Forum on 5 December 2014 in Beijing, with a view to promote and expand trade and investment between South Africa and China.
Enquiries: Mac Maharaj on 079 879 3203 or macmaharaj@icloud.com
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
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