Companies from China and Africa signed 39 deals worth around 17 billion U.S. dollars
28 July 2016
The 39 deals, involving financial institutions and enterprises, were signed on the eve of a meeting on delivering the outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
More than 400 participants from government agencies, financial institutions, business associations and enterprises attended the Seminar on China-Africa Business Cooperation and Signing Ceremony in Beijing on Thursday, 28 July 2016.
The seminar was hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), which is a supporting event for the Coordinators' Meeting of the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Johannesburg Summit of the FOCAC.
During the seminar, participants exchanged views on industrial capacity cooperation, trade and investment facilitation and financial cooperation.
Chinese and African companies spanning the sectors of infrastructure, processing and manufacturing, finance, investment, energy, chemicals, agriculture, pharmaceutical and ICT, reached consensus for future cooperation.
Jiang Weixin, chairman of the CCPIT, said the development strategies of Africa and China were highly compatible, and the two sides have many advantages.
In the future, the CCPIT will work with its African counterparts to enhance communication, strengthen policy coordination, and organize more trade and investment events to boost China-Africa trade ties, said Jiang.
Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao had a group meeting with the African delegates.
Hailing the success of the Johannesburg summit, Li called on China and the African countries to enhance mutual trust, promote pragmatic cooperation, expand people-to-people exchanges and improve coordination on global affairs.
State Councilor Yang Jiechi held separate meetings with the foreign minister of Chad, Moussa Faki Mahamat; Sudanese Presidential Assistant Al-Jaz; and Gambian Foreign Minister Neneh MacDouall-Gaye, exchanging views on China's ties with their respective countries as well as Africa as a whole.
At the summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) last December in Johannesburg, South Africa, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced ten major China-Africa cooperation plans for the next three years, backed by 60 billion U.S. dollars, including interest free loans and preferential policies.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sends congratulatory letter
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, 29 July 2016 sent a congratulatory letter to the Coordinators' Meeting on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The Johannesburg Summit last December opened a new era of win-win cooperation and common development between China and Africa and was a milestone in the history of China-Africa relations, Xi said in the letter.
Over the past six months, China and Africa have worked together to overcome the negative impact of the sluggish world economy, reached consensus on jointly implementing the outcomes of the summit and achieved tangible results, showing the dynamic development of China-Africa cooperation, Xi said.
The coordinators' meeting in Beijing is an important step by China and Africa to implement the consensus of Chinese and African leaders and the outcomes of the FOCAC Summit, Xi said.
The meeting demonstrates to the world once again that no matter how the international landscape may change, China and Africa will never change in their resolve to pursue unity and cooperation, and that China's support for African peace and development will never change, Xi said.
The current weak performance of the world economy brings opportunities and challenges for the economic development of China and Africa, Xi said, adding that China and Africa must "stand shoulder to shoulder and march forward hand in hand."
Citing a Chinese saying "the unity of two brothers gives them the strength to cut through metal," Xi expressed his hope that at the meeting the two sides will exchange views, compare notes, build consensus and promote cooperation.
By pooling wisdom and strength and advancing their friendship and cooperation, China and Africa will make sure that the results of the summit will benefit their 2.4 billion people, Xi said.
Xi noted that China values relations with Africa and will continue to act on the principles of sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith. China will uphold the values of friendship, justice and shared interests, take solid steps to implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Summit, and enrich and foster the China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of South Africa