APA-Pretoria (South Africa) The two-day 25th Africa-France summit, which began Monday in Nice, France, with 40 African leaders, including President Jacob Zuma in attendance, is expected to end in the French resort city on Tuesday.
During the opening day, French President Nicholas Sarkozy, said he would raise the issue of having an African state as a UN Security Council representative when France chairs the Council in the near future.
This topic was in keeping with the summit’s agenda of focusing on the African continent’s role in global governance, strengthening peace and security, climate and development.
In an interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation, South African President Zuma said : "We have some anxiety as a continent that some big countries seem to be having some hand in some of the (conflict) issues and we cannot call for good relations with the continent and yet there could be activities that do not seem to be promoting those relations we are calling for."
The summit has also focused on economic and trade partnership, conflict and remedies and investment potentials in African.
The summit was also expected to create a platform for developed countries to partner with France in identifying investment opportunities in African countries.
This will pave the way for member countries of the European Union to invest in areas of their interest in Africa, according to the SABC report.
Zuma, who is accompanied by Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and Trade and Industry’s Rob Davies, was scheduled to address Heads of State and Government representatives on "Strengthening peace and security in Africa" and also hold private talks with French President Nicholas Sarkozy.
NM/nm/APA
2010-06-01
