Ramaphosa says China investment pledges show importance of relationship
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday welcomed a proposal from his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to strengthen China's bilateral relations with African countries.
Xi pledged more than $50 billion in financing for Africa over the next three years and promised to help create at least a million jobs on the continent.
He made the announcement during the opening ceremony of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing.
Hundreds of African political and business leaders filed into China's Great Hall of the People on Thursday, eager to forge new partnerships, sign contracts and make industry connections.
Ramaphosa said ties between China and Africa have continued to grow and deepen.
"This, to us, shows the great importance that China attaches to its relationship with the African continent and with individual countries within the continent, and for this, we thank you.”
Ramaphosa said the forum could play an important role in the development of an integrated network of linkages between countries, within regions and across the continent.
China is Africa's largest trading partner and its loans have helped build much-needed infrastructure, but they have sometimes also stoked controversy by saddling governments with huge debts.
ALSO READ:
