Visiting State Councilor Yang Jiechi met with South Africa International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane in Johannesburg, South Africa on Oct 9.

The state councilor was in Johannesburg to discuss details in relation to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit scheduled for December 4-5 in Johannesburg.

South Africa is busy preparing for the upcoming, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said.

She also said President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to South Africa during the summit.

She said they are excited about the upcoming visit by Chinese president who will be hosted by South African President Jacob Zuma.

Described her meeting with Yang Jiechi as “productive,” Nkoana-Mashabane said,” We had a good interaction with Yang Jiechi, the State Councilor of the People’s Republic of China, a former Foreign Minister who is a good friend of South Africa. This was a continuation of the consultations before the FOCAC Summit.”

The theme for the FOCAC Summit is “Africa-China Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development”.

Nkoana-Mashabane said their discussion also touched some specific areas of cooperation.

“We looked at the draft outcome documents and Program of Action. When done, we will take them to the embassies for the continuation of consultations.

“We also picked the areas of cooperation; these are economic cooperation, integration, industrialization, beneficiation, health, poverty eradication and peace and security in Africa. These are the exciting things we want to do with China,” Nkoana-Mashabane told the media.