President Weah Arrives in Beijing to Attend 7th Summit of FOCAC; Meets Foreign Minister Findley Upon Arrival
IPNews-Monrovia,Liberia-29 August 2018: President George Manneh Weah and a high-level Liberian delegation have safely arrived in Beijing, People’s Republic of China (PRC) to join his African colleagues at the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China – Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). According to a dispatched from Beijing, the President Weah and delegation at the Beijing International Capital Airport were Foreign Minister Gbehzohngar Findley, Defense Minister Daniel Ziankahn, Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe, Health Minister Wilhelmina Jallah, and the Agriculture Minister Dr. Mogana Flomo. Others were Transport Minister Sam Wlue, State Without Portfolio Minister Trokon Kpui and Liberia’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Dudley McKinley Thomas, staff at the Embassy, and the leaderships of the Liberian and student community in China. The third summit of the FOCAC, which has as its theme: “China and Africa: Towards an Even Stronger Community with a Shared Future Through Win-Win Cooperation,” runs from September 3 – 5, while the seventh Ministerial Conference takes place on September 2, 2018. President Weah is expected to hold bilateral discussions with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping on Saturday, September 1, 2018. As part of his activities, the Liberian leader will attend a high-level dialogue between African and Chinese leaders and business representatives. This year’s summit seeks to build a stronger community with a shared future between China and Africa which will yield important outcomes including the connection of the Belt and Road Initiative with Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the UN 2030 Agenda on sustainable development. Chinese and African leaders will have close interchanges, create stronger strategic guidance for cooperation as well as add new substance to the community considering new circumstances, which will also contribute to the building of a community with shared future for mankind. The summit is also expected to strengthen the cooperation between China and Africa to a high level with the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and the Bejjing Action Plan. A number of bilateral cooperation agreements will also be signed, which will outline a plan for China and Africa cooperation over the next tree years and beyond. Fourteen sub-forums and side events, covering various people-centered areas, will take place before and after the summit. The 2018 Beijing summit will be chaired by President Xi Jinping, who will also hold relevant activities on the sidelines of the summit. Over the past 18 years, achievements have been made in political, economic and people-to-people exchanges between China and Africa. Trade volume between China and Africa increased by 17 times between 2000 and 2017. China’s investments in Africa have also grown significantly. Since its inception 18 years ago, the FOCAC have held two summits to date, with the most recent taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa from December 3 – 4, 2015. The first summit was held in November 2006 in Beijing, PRC. Meanwhile, Mrs. Marie Clar Weah, who is expected in Beijing at the weekend, will join other African First Ladies at a High-Level Dialogue on AIDS prevention and control Tuesday, September 4, 2018.
