8 October 2000
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, arrived in Beijing, China on Sunday, 08 October 2000, ahead of the first ever forum of ministers of foreign affairs and trade and industry from both continents, dubbed the China-Africa Forum, to be held from 10 - 12 October 2000.
Minister Dlamini Zuma is leading a South African delegation consisting of the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alec Erwin, Director-General of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sipho Pityana and a number of government officials from the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry as well as representatives of the private sector.
The aim of the forum is to consolidate the political and economic relationship between Africa and China. The forum will discuss among others:
Inter-governmental cooperation; trade and investment; development of infrastructure; financial cooperation; debt reduction and exemption; tourism; migration; agricultural cooperation; cooperation on conventional arms control; cooperation in medical care and public health; education and human resources development; multilateral cooperation and follow-up mechanisms.
South Africa's broad objectives with participation at the Conference is as follows:
- to establish a structure as well as parameters for the conduct of relations between African and China, based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit:
- to seek common ground with China on ways to advance the interests of the developing world in the international political and economic system;
- to commit China to the practical implementation of a mutually beneficial trade regime with Africa;
- to foster regional cooperation in the context of Sino-African relations;
- to realign China's development assistance policies to support the priorities of Africa and to be conducive to the economic development of the Continent; and
- to seek China's unambiguous support for the African Renaissance.
For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082 990 4853
Issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry