Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma will go to Beijing next week to attend celebrations commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of the occupation of China and the end of World War II, government said on Wednesday.
Deputy Minister of International Relations Luwellyn Landers said Zuma and a ministerial delegation would also make use of the trip to discuss progress in its strategic co-operation pact with China, as well as the preparations for South Africa’s hosting of the FOCAC (Forum on China-Africa-Co-operation) summit in December.
The Second Sino-Japanese War began in 1937 and ended in 1945, halfway through merging with the greater conflict of World War II. The celebrations are taking place next Thursday.
The Five-to-Ten Year Strategic Programme for Co-operation, agreed by South Africa and China late last year, focuses on industrialisation, infrastructure development, special economic zones and financial co-operation.
Landers said he did not know which ministers would accompany the president to Beijing.
ANA