African Leaders Head to China for 3rd Cooperation Summit

African presidents and heads of state have arrived in, or are en route to, the Chinese capital of Beijing to participate in the Forum for Africa-China Cooperation, or Focac, summit, which is scheduled to take place on September 3 and 4.

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“China and Africa: Toward an Even Stronger Community with a Shared Future through Win-Win Cooperation” is the title of this year's edition for the high-level conference.

The discussions will revolve around ways to increase diplomatic, economic and bilateral ties between African nations and the Asian country.

The president of Botswana, Mokgweetsi EK Masisi, tweeted: "I have landed safely in China for an official three day State visit. This is my first state visit as President & will hold talks with (Chinese) President Mr. XI Jingpin tomorrow to renew a long lasting friendship between the two countries."

African leaders attending the conference include Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed; Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Christian Kabore; Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita; President of the Ivory Coast Alassane Ouattara; Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari; Somalian President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed; and others.

The summit is viewed as a strategic and one of the most important diplomatic events hosted by China in 2018 and attended by the largest number of foreign leaders to date. African leaders who have already arrived in Beijing have held talks with their Chinese counterparts, signing deals and also meeting investors, according to Africa News.

“Established 18 years ago, Focac has led international cooperation with Africa and has become a significant marker of South-South cooperation,” said Li Dan, director of the Africa Studies Center at the Chinese Foreign Affairs University.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, said this year's meeting is the third time the summit has convened, following the inaugural 2006 summit in Beijing and the 2015 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.