Media Statement
26 July 2016
Minister Nkoana-Mashabane visits China and Indonesia to strengthen political and economic relations
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, will participate in, and also co-chair, the Co-ordinators Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), scheduled for 29 July 2016 in Beijing, in the People’s Republic of China.
South Africa and China are the co-chairs of the FOCAC until 2018. The FOCAC Coordinators meeting will assess the progress in terms of implementation after the commitments made at the Johannesburg Summit of the FOCAC in December 2015.
The FOCAC meetings are aimed at reinforcing the historical solidarity of friendship through win-win cooperation that exists between the governments and people of Africa and China. This refers, in particular to large infrastructure programmes that complement those identified within the African Union’s vision for the next 50 years, Agenda 2063. In particular, attention will be devoted to the implementation and utilisation of the FOCAC Fund, announced by H.E President Xi Jinping during the historic Johannesburg FOCAC Summit that took place on 4 and 5 December 2015.
The Minister will also engage in discussion with her counterparts at the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Commerce to review the status of bilateral relations and the implementation of the 23 Agreements signed during President Xi Jinping’s State Visit to South Africa in December 2015.
Following the working visit to China, Minister Nkoana-Mashabane will travel to Jakarta, Indonesia, to deliver a special address on behalf of H. E. President Jacob Zuma, at the Opening Session of the 12th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) on 2 August 2016 under the theme: Decentralising Growth and Empowering Future Business.”
President Zuma has been invited to participate in this Forum to promote South Africa as an investment destination and as a country with a strong and dynamic Islamic community in a secular and multicultural environment. Since the Forum coincides with South Africa’s Local Government elections, the Minister will represent President Zuma at the opening of the WIEF.
The World Islamic Economic Forum brings together government leaders, captains of industry, academic scholars, regional experts, professionals and corporate managers to discuss opportunities for business partnerships in the Muslim world. The Forum today includes countries beyond the OIC and other non-Muslim communities across the globe.
Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, 082 884 5974
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
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