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His Excellency President Jacob Zuma has today, 17 July 2012, left for Beijing on an Official Visit to the People’s Republic of China at the invitation of His Excellency, President Hu Jintao from 19-20 July 2012. The President returned this morning from the highly successful AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The visit to Beijing takes place within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership concluded between the Republic of South Africa and the People’s Republic of China in August 2010.

The two leaders will exchange views on how to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, coordination within the G20, strengthening of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) Forum and broader international developments.

President Zuma will also attend the opening ceremony of the 5th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), during which he will make an address on 19 July2012.

South Africa will assume Co-Chairmanship of the FOCAC Partnership from Egypt, on behalf of the African side, for the next six years. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation is one of the most strategic partnerships between Africa and its development partnerships.

On 18 July 2012, the 9th FOCAC Senior Officials Meeting will review the Conference programme and draft outcomes documents.

The 5th FOCAC Ministerial Conference is also expected to review the implementation of the follow-up actions of the 4th FOCAC Sharm El Sheikh Action Plan (2010-2012) and adopt the 5th FOCAC Ministerial Conference Beijing Declaration and 5th FOCAC Beijing Action Plan (2013-2015).

President Zuma will be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Collins Chabane, and the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies.