S. Africa's Zuma hails newly-unveiled China-Africa cooperation plans

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Publish time: 8th December, 2015      Source: Xinhua News Agency
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S. Africa''s Zuma hails newly-unveiled China-Africa cooperation plans

DATE:2015-12-08           SOURCE:Xinhua News Agency
 

South African President Jacob Zuma reacts receives an interview with Xinhua in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dec. 6, 2015. (Xinhua/Zhao Xi)

 

JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- South African President Jacob Zuma has hailed China''s plans for cooperation with Africa unveiled at a landmark summit.

 

The two-day Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation that brought together Chinese President Xi and more than 40 African leaders concluded Saturday, with the highlights being 10 cooperation plans announced by Xi.

 

Xi also pledged 60 billion U.S. dollars of funding support for the plans, including grants, interet-free loans and preferential loans.

 

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Sunday, Zuma said the summit had achieved more than African countries expected.

 

"China has demonstrated that it''s the real friend of Africa," Zuma said.

 

The cooperation plans cover various areas including industrialization, agriculture, financial service, public health, poverty reduction, education, personnel training and peace and security.

 

Zuma said the plans met the needs of African countries, dealing with their concerns.

 

"The announcement of 10-point plan gave sufficient evidence to us that China listens to what Africa is saying. Therefore, it didn''t come with its own thought-out ideas. It actually met the expectations of African leaders," he said.

 

Zuma said with the 10 cooperation plans, Africa''s development would be very visible, particularly in infrastructure and energy which he said had seen setbacks.

 

He listed industrialization, infrastructure, agriculture and health as four priorities of Africa''s cooperation with China.

 

"We need infrastructure very much. We have identified this long time ago," he said.

 

Chinese President Xi Jinping (front) attends a plenary meeting of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dec. 5, 2015. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

 

He however said "Africa has its homework to do" in the implementation of these plans.

 

"I think what has happened already is the direct focus on what should come out of the relationship.

 

Africa should also think hard as how it can unpack these pledges that China has made and how it can make them effective," Zuma said.

 

"The result will always be a challenge. I think China has helped us to address that issue," he said.

 

Africa and China would both gain from their cooperation based on trust and mutual benefit, Zuma added. "That is an important foundation."

 

Africa has 1.1 billion people and China has 1.3 billion people, the two sides can create a very huge market and attract global investment, he said.

 

Addressing business executives from China and Africa in Johannesburg on Friday, Zuma said Africa had received the most tangible results from its friendship with China.

 

He termed China-Africa partnership as the best ever "international engagement" Africa had developed with any other region in the world.

 

On that occasion, he said the ten cooperation plans would enable Africa to benefit from an industrial growth backed by China.

 

He lauded the Chinese approach to economic relations with Africa, saying building industrial parks and technology parks in Africa would boost transfer of skills and economic growth.