Your Excellency, President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China,

Your Excellency, President Robert Mugabe, Chair of the African Union,

Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government of the States of the African Continent

Your Excellency, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission,

Honourable Ministers,

Heads of Delegations,

Ambassadors,

Senior officials,

We have come to the end of a ground-breaking and momentous occasion.

The Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was not only historic because it was the first FOCAC Summit to take place in the African continent.

It was also historic because this Summit has taken the relationship between Africa and China to its highest level ever.

The Johannesburg Summit has in essence propelled this partnership to that of a Comprehensive Strategic and Cooperative Partnership.

In that way we have ensured that we are better able to address the pressing needs of our peoples.

Your Excellencies,

This relationship between Africa and China is not new.

It is a longstanding historic relationship that is based on a history of solidarity and the support we received from China as we fought colonialism and apartheid on the African continent decades ago.

China was there when we needed help most and we will never forget that solidarity and comradeship.

That solidarity has laid a firm ground for more focused, friendly and dependable development cooperation.

This cooperation is based on the principles that underline the FOCAC partnership which are sincerity, mutual trust, equality, win-win cooperation and mutual benefit.

The theme of the Summit: “China-Africa Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development” was most appropriate.  

Africa and China are together a fraternal community with a shared and prosperous future. Africa and China want to prosper together.

I would like to sincerely thank President Xi for his immense contribution in making this partnership successful and for his commitment to taking the relationship with Africa to its highest level ever.

At the beginning of this summit yesterday, President Xi placed before the Summit and the world, a major and historic concrete development partnership plan with Africa.

The President announced 10 priority programmes aimed at addressing three of the primary bottlenecks hindering Africa's development, namely the lack of infrastructure, skilled personnel and funding.

The ten initiatives specifically identified for cooperation over the next three years to address these bottlenecks include, industrialisation, agricultural modernisation, infrastructure, finance, green development, trade and investment facilitation, poverty eradication and people’s wellbeing, public health, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and peace and security.

A package of capital assistance to support the ten areas to the tune of Sixty billion US dollars was announced. This includes grants, preferential and concessional loans, a China-Africa industrial cooperation fund and debt relief. 

This is a significant amount. It clearly illustrates China’s commitment to ensure that China’s development takes place in conjunction with the developing countries of the South, particularly those in Africa.

Excellency President Xi you have also expressed strong support for peace and security in Africa including the fight against terrorism in the continent.

You have also voiced your strong and unambiguous support for the African Union position that all peace efforts must be led by Africa and that solutions to Africa’s problems must come from Africa.

Your Excellency you also made a pledge in the United Nations General Assembly, to provide concrete material support for African peace missions, which will be African-led.

We also reiterate our appreciation of the declaration you made during the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Beijing in September 2015.

You said China’s military might would be used for peace, to prevent wars and to support vulnerable countries.

You already have peacekeepers on the ground in Africa. We certainly look forward to continuing to work with China to build peace in Africa.

Excellencies

We fully support this new high and more focused level of the partnership.

It has the potential to significantly enhance the African Continental agenda, as embodied in African Union Agenda 2063 and its First 10-Year Implementation Plan.

The AU Agenda includes the commitments to support railway and road infrastructure, power generation and distribution networks, industrial and technology parks and human resources development, to name but a few.

There is also the commitment to significantly enhance trade and investment rates.

The AU agenda also supports peace and stability. 

Africa wishes to achieve a united, prosperous and peaceful Africa; a better Africa in a better world.  FOCAC clearly responds to these imperatives.

The announcements made by President Xi to the Summit also respond to these imperatives.

We are therefore aligned and are on the same path towards development and progress.

Let me reiterate therefore, that this Summit has certainly taken the FOCAC partnership to its highest level ever. 

We have every reason to be upbeat about the future of the FOCAC partnership.

The Johannesburg Summit Declaration and the Johannesburg Action Plan clearly outline the way forward as we implement the programme of action arising from this Summit.

The announcements and agreements made here must translate to concrete action and outcomes that will be felt by our peoples.

In this regard, our implementation mechanisms should ensure that we see swift action and that an effective monitoring and evaluation is undertaken.

Excellencies

Ladies and gentlemen

I wish to thank His Excellency President Xi Jinping for the able manner in which he has co-chaired the Summit and for his support in ensuring its success.

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to His Excellencies the Heads of State and Government from this beautiful continent, for attending this Summit and for the weighty inputs they have made, which have enriched the deliberations.

A high number of Heads of State and Government graced the Summit, and those who could not attend, sent senior heads of delegations.

This indicates the seriousness with which the FOCAC partnership is taken by the leadership of the continent.

I thank you most sincerely Your Excellencies for your support. It was truly a pleasure and a privilege for us to host you.

Let me also single out the chairperson of the African Union, President Robert Mugabe for his support and participation.

I also wish to thank the African Union Commission Chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. The AU Commission continues to provide active support to the FOCAC partnership which we truly appreciate.

I also wish to extend my gratitude to the FOCAC Business Forum for their contribution to making this summit successful.

We also thank the young people who showcased the culture of both China and Africa during the cultural show yesterday. They reminded us of the need to continue promoting people to people exchanges within the FOCAC family of nations.

We also appreciate the hard work of the various teams that provided logistical and personal support and ensured that everything runs smoothly for the delegations.

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen

It has been a great honour for South Africa to have hosted this momentous event.

Excellencies

We lost the founding father of our democracy, President Nelson Mandela on the 5th of December 2013. It is befitting that on this second anniversary of his passing, we have spent the day discussing the rise of the African continent. We are taking his vision forward.

May you all have a safe journey back home.

Excellencies

I now pronounce the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation closed.

I thank you.