Zuma in China for celebrations, talks

President Zuma arrived in China to attend the the celebration marking the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. File Photo: ROLEX DELA PENA

President Zuma arrived in China to attend the the celebration marking the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. File Photo: ROLEX DELA PENA

Published Sep 2, 2015

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Beijing - President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday arrived in China to attend the the celebration marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the occupation of China and the Second World War.

The Presidency issued a statement saying Zuma had arrived in Beijing at the invitation of his counterpart, Xi Jinping, president of the People’s Republic of China, with whom he was set to hold bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the celebrations.

The Presidency said Zuma and his delegation would assess the status of progress on the key areas identified under the five-to-ten year strategic programme for cooperation, discuss preparations for South Africa’s hosting of the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit on 4-5 December, and provide an update on developments pertaining to the African Regional Centre (ARC) with regard to the BRICS New Development Bank.

China hosts the headquarters of the recently launched BRICS Development Bank, based in Shanghai.

During a State visit by Zuma in December 2014, the two countries had concluded the strategic programme for cooperation with six priority areas identified as the focus of the strategic relationship for 2015.

These were:

1. Alignment of industries to accelerate South Africa’s industrialisation process;

2. Enhancement of cooperation in Special Economic Zones (SEZs);

3. Enhancement of marine cooperation;

4. Infrastructure development;

5. Human resource cooperation; and,

6. Financial cooperation.

Zuma is accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and the Deputy Minister of Energy, Thembisile Majola-Embalo.

ANA

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