
Johannesburg, Dec. 3 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with the African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma in Johannesburg Thursday at the start of a series of meetings to intensify the economic relationship between China and Africa.
Speaking exclusively to Xinhua after the meeting, Dlamini-Zuma said Africa was ready to industrialize using the raw materials locally available but required the Chinese help in the process.
"There is agriculture, the land and the people. We need to modernize Africa's agriculture. We admire the Chinese example of lifting millions of people from poverty," Dlamini-Zuma told Xinhua.
President Xi is leading a Chinese delegation to the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) which has attracted 45 African heads of state to discuss a wide range of issues on economic, social and political cooperation.
"The outcomes of this Summit will be beneficial to Africa. Africa has developed its own Agenda 2063 and we are here to align this cooperation with Africa's economic development agenda," the chairperson said.
The FOCAC is designed to promote economic cooperation and political dialogue between China and Africa.
Dlamini-Zuma said various agreements have been signed between China and the AU to promote the economic partnership. Among these agreements there is one on the development of a continental railway network which will link all of Africa's economic and political capitals.
"We hope to enhance this cooperation during the FOCAC Summit," the AUC chairperson said.
During the Johannesburg Summit, the AUC officials hope that the discussions would focus on the multilateral partnership between the AU, the African countries and China.
"Training is important to us. The young people of Africa need skills. We want China to be involved in the training of the skilled African workforce. We want to ensure that the African women are also part of this development. Beyond this, we want to focus on the issue of peace and energy development," Dlamini-Zuma added.
The China-Africa cooperation has been hailed in many ways for helping to accelerate economic growth in African countries.
The AUC official said the willingness by China to invest in new financial institutions would benefit African countries. She said African countries would also benefit from rapid infrastructure development by grasping opportunities created by the new Chinese investments in a new global financial system.
"It is up to African countries to make the best out of this relationship," Dlamini-Zuma added.
Dlamini-Zuma said beyond the primary areas of current cooperation, there was a chance for more Chinese banks to set up base in Africa to benefit from the high returns in infrastructure investments.
"The China-Africa relationship remains strong.The Chinese commitment to Africa has been intensified by President Xi. Clearly, Africa is part of China's priority areas of international cooperation," Dlamini-Zuma said.
Charming female bodybuilders of Chengdu University
Polish sports stars strip off for risqué calendar
Spectacular aerial photos of the Three Gorges
Contestants of Mrs. Globe pose for photo in Shenzhen
Bikini models attend hot pot banquet in Hefei
J-10B fighters with homegrown engine in test fligh
Photos of U.S. Navy intruding in South China Sea released
Cats who immediately regretted their life choices in photographs
Beautiful girl from police college becomes Internet hit
Top 20 hottest women in the world in 2014
Top 10 hardest languages to learn
10 Chinese female stars with most beautiful faces
China’s Top 10 Unique Bridges, Highways and Roads
Money for love
Unhealthy holiday
The emperor’s new pose
Zuckerberg sets an example for Chinese societyDay|Week