Greeting message to China-Africa Media Summit from South African president

GREETINGS AND CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO THE CHINA-AFRICA MEDIA SUMMIT FROM HIS EXCELLENCY, MR JACOB GEDLEYIHLEKISA ZUMA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, ON 1 DECEMBER 2015 IN CAPE TOWN.

INTRODUCTION

I am delighted to welcome you to South Africa for the China-Africa Media Summit. In this week we are due to host His Excellency President Xi Jinping in South Africa for a State Visit and also prepare to host the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

The theme for this Summit: 'A New Era of Win-Win Media Cooperation between China and Africa', captures our strong people to people co-operation which can be enhanced by the increased role of the media. The theme also ties in with the theme for the FOCAC Summit: 'Africa-China Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development'. The common element is mutual benefit, which is a critical thread in Africa-China cooperation.

The media interest and activities around the FOCAC Summit proves the important place the media holds in opening up our cooperation at business-to- business, people-to-people and government-to-government levels. The role that the media plays in unlocking doors to new opportunities for win-win development in other areas cannot be underestimated. For media to report correctly and in a balanced fashion, access and openness is crucial. In this regard, we need also to seek ways that media and Government can do to develop meaningful partnerships for the benefit our people.

AFRICA-CHINA RELATIONS

Organised by China and hosted in South Africa, the China-Africa Media Summit is a welcome initiative that seeks to build media-to-media relations between African media leaders and their Chinese counterparts. I extend my best wishes for the success of the New Era of Win-Win Co-operation between Media from China and Africa that will serve to strengthen co-operation via exchanging thoughts, ideas and seek common development.

The year 2015 marks 60 years since the Bandung Summit and the birth of Africa-Asia solidarity of which China-Africa relations have been among the most productive and comprehensive through the mutual focus on issues relating to global politics, economics, financial architecture and articulation of the interests of the Global South. Therefore, the ground is very fertile for the media sector to plant seeds of mutual benefit and co-operation through a New-type Sino-African Strategic Partnership.

We congratulate China for supporting the establishment of the African Union and implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development through diplomatic and financial means as well as tangible contribution to peace keeping missions.

Under the guidance of FOCAC, China and Africa have explored a unique path of cooperation:

• Firstly, both sides have maintained closer political contacts, cooperated in international affairs and deepened political trust as symbolised by increased frequency in relation to high-level political visits between China and Africa, dialogues, consultations, trade and investment. Both sides have maintained communication and coordination on such issues as the reform of the global governance system, climate change, and the Post-2015 Development Agenda, among other things.

• Secondly, the implementation of the new measures announced in 2012 has achieved substantial advancement. Investment in and financing to support sustainable development in Africa have been further expanded. China's pledge to provide loans of US$20 billion for African countries has been fulfilled ahead of schedule. Two-way trade volume exceeded US$200 billion for the first time in 2013, and China has become Africa's largest trade partner for five years in a row. China has fully committed itself to offering assistance to Africa. Since the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa, the Chinese Government has offered four batches of emergency humanitarian aids totalling US$122,6 million. Also, China has made great efforts in supporting the African integration process, enhancing people-to-people friendship, and promoting peace and stability in Africa.

• Thirdly, the mechanism of FOCAC has witnessed continuous improvement. New platforms for dialogue, such as the ministerial seminar on health issues and the dialogue mechanism between environment ministers, have promoted China-Africa relations in an all-around way.

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