The South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane on Saturday said the two-day Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) exceeded expectations.[Special coverage]
She was addressing the media at the closing of the FOCAC Summit in Johannesburg, "This Summit has exceeded our expectations. We have upgraded our partnership to a higher level," said Nkoana Mashabane.
She stated that the 10 major China-Africa cooperation plans announced by President Xi Jinping will enable Africa to address the needs of its people and accelerate its development, adding that African leaders subscribed to the 10-point plan.
"In the past, the assistance we have been getting had some conditions attached to them. We welcome our partners like China who promised to respect our sovereignty and the sovereignty of the individual states they will be dealing with,"she added.
"FOCAC brought hope to all of us. Africa expressed eagerness to accelerate industrialization and modernization," said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the closing of the FOCAC Summit, "China will enhance cooperation with Africa and be an effective partner for development. China will uphold the 10 points put forward by President Xi. We will work together with our African friends to fulfil the outcomes of the Summit,"the minister stressed.
Wang added that China will support Africa who wants to have a bigger voice in the United Nations and its reforms.
He noted that China has the industrial competitiveness,capacities and technologies that Africa needs in its development, adding that China will ensure a balanced trade growth with Africa.
