Beijing, China – Africa and China partnership is rooted in the desire to obtain prosperous future for their respective peoples primarily through the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), said an African official at an event ahead of next year’s FOCAC summit. The senior officials meeting in the Chinese capital brought together representatives of 52 African countries and regional blocs as well as 32 officials of the Chinese follow-up committee. It reviewed progress from the 2015 Johannesburg summit and exchanged views ahead of the 2018 summit to be held in Beijing. An import-export trade fair to be held in Shanghai next November is expected to “help African countries explore investment opportunities” in the world’s second largest economy, Chinese officials say. Chen Xiaodong said there have been positive effects based on “mutual understanding and co-interests for all parties” since the 2015 FOCAC summit was in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Source: Front Page Africa November 26, 2017 21:33 UTC