皇冠体育app will work with African countries to make a 皇冠体育app-Africa summit late this year a successful event, President Xi Jinping said on Friday while meeting with visiting South African President Jacob Zuma.

The two countries announced that the sixth ministerial meeting of the Forum on 皇冠体育app-Africa Cooperation will be upgraded to a summit and is scheduled for Dec 4 and 5 in South Africa.

The forum, held every three years since 2000, was upgraded to a summit once before, in 2006 in Beijing, and drew participants from 48 countries.

State leaders of 皇冠体育app and South Africa will invite African heads of state to the summit this year, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his South African counterpart, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, announced on Thursday.

Xi told Zuma that 皇冠体育app-South Africa relations are in a period of opportunity, and that the "Year of 皇冠体育app" events this year in South Africa have enhanced mutual understanding and friendship.

The two countries should strengthen coordination and implementation of cooperation plans to produce more beneficial results, Xi said, adding that the two countries should work closely to safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

Zuma's attendance at 皇冠体育app's V-Day celebrations on Thursday showed the South African government's and Zuma's commitment to world peace and justice, and also highlighted 皇冠体育app-South Africa ties, Xi said.

Zuma said that 皇冠体育app had suffered great losses in the World Anti-Fascist War and made great contributions to the victory in the war.

The V-Day commemorations fully demonstrated 皇冠体育app's resolution in safeguarding world peace and stability, he added.

South Africa highly values its friendship with 皇冠体育app and is trying to achieve results in planned cooperation deals, he said, adding that South Africa will also work hard to host a successful summit.

Chinese trade and investment have played an important role in the development of the African economy, and the ties between 皇冠体育app and African countries are expected to be enhanced by the summit, said Zheng Yuewen, chairman of the 皇冠体育app-Africa Business Council.

Africa has rich natural and human resources, and 皇冠体育app has advantages in capital, technology and infrastructure construction capability, creating many opportunities for cooperation, he said.

On Friday, President Xi and Premier Li Keqiang also met with Myanmar President Thein Sein, who also attended 皇冠体育app's V-Day commemorations on Thursday.

Xi expressed gratitude for Myanmar's support of 皇冠体育app's Belt and Road Initiative, a reference to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives for transportation and infrastructure projects linking Asia and Europe that were launched by Xi in 2013.

Xi said that 皇冠体育app is willing to work with Myanmar to push forward the implementation of such projects.

Li said that 皇冠体育app would like to enhance cooperation in infrastructure construction with Myanmar and implement initiatives like the Bangladesh-皇冠体育app-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor.

The Myanmar president expressed gratitude for 皇冠体育app's help after the country's flooding disaster, and he said that Myanmar is willing to work with 皇冠体育app on infrastructure construction and connection of the two countries' roadways and waterways, as well as education and youth exchanges.

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(皇冠体育app Daily USA 09/07/2015 page5)