Monday, August 31, 2015

Zuma in China for WWll Celebrations
31 August 2015 at 05:25
by ANA

President Jacob Zuma will attend the 70th anniversary of the end of the occupation of China and WW ll, in Beijing next week, the presidency said on Sunday.

President Jacob Zuma will attend the 70th anniversary of the end of the occupation of China and WW ll, in Beijing next week, the presidency said on Sunday.

Zuma had been invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping to participate in the celebrations in Beijing on September 3, the presidency said in a statement.

Apart from participating in the celebrations, it was anticipated that presidents Zuma and Xi would hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the event.

Zuma and his delegation were expected to assess the status of progress on key areas identified under the Five-to-Ten-Year Strategic Programme for Co-operation, discuss preparations for South Africa’s hosting of the Forum for China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) summit on December 4 and 5, and provide an update on developments pertaining to the African Regional Centre (ARC) with regard to the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) New Development Bank. China hosts the headquarters of the recently launched BRICS Development Bank, based in Shanghai.

South Africa’s relations with China were at the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP), with the bilateral relationship being among the most vibrant and strategic, the presidency said.

During Zuma’s state visit to China in December last year, the two countries concluded the Five-to-Ten-Year Strategic Programme for Co-operation between South Africa and China.

Six priority areas were identified as the focus of the strategic relationship for 2015.

These were alignment of industries to accelerate South Africa’s industrialisation process, enhancement of co-operation in Special Economic Zones (SEZs), enhancement of marine co-operation, infrastructure development, human resource co-operation, and financial co-operation.

Zuma would be accompanied by International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, and Deputy Energy Minister Thembisile Majola, the presidency said.

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