President Cyril Ramaphosa will, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the African Union (AU), participate in a virtual Extraordinary China-Africa Solidarity Summit against Covid-19 co-hosted by the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the AU.

The aim of the Summit, scheduled for today, Wednesday 17 June 2020, is to explore opportunities for African states to leverage multilateral cooperation, through the FOCAC mechanism, so that resources and knowledge can be mobilised in efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

FOCAC is an official forum that coordinates cooperation between the People's Republic of China and African states.

Other participants will include Chairpersons Regional Economic Communities (REC's) with the Republic of Madagascar representing the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA); Chad for the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD); the Republic of Rwanda for the East African Community (EAC).

The State of Libya will represent the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), while the Democratic People's Republic of Algeria and the Federal Republic of Nigeria will participate as initiating members of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).