South African and Chinese Presidents Prioritize Economic Ties and Global Affairs Ahead of BRICS Summit
Ahead of the upcoming BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping engaged in discussions aimed at enhancing their economic partnership and addressing global issues, including the conflict in Ukraine.
Xi Jinping’s state visit to Pretoria further solidified the commitment of both nations to strengthen their economic relationship, with particular attention to reducing the trade deficit between South Africa and China. President Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of expanding market access for South African value-added goods in the Chinese market.
During their meeting, the leaders signed multiple agreements and memoranda of cooperation across various trade and economic sectors. The two nations have maintained a close collaborative stance on international matters, contributing to the development and revitalization of their respective countries and safeguarding the interests of fellow developing nations.
Xi Jinping, while receiving the Order of South Africa from President Ramaphosa, underlined the era of heightened China-Africa partnership and expressed China’s commitment to supporting Africa’s involvement in the G20.
Asserting the enduring nature of their bilateral cooperation, Xi affirmed that regardless of changing international circumstances, both countries would remain dedicated to deepening their friendly ties.
“We firmly support the construction of African integration. We will support substantial progress of the African Union’s accession to the G20 this year. We support South Africa to play a greater role in international and regional affairs,” declared Xi.
Despite criticism surrounding Russia’s actions in Ukraine and China’s trade disputes with Western nations, South Africa has maintained its relationships with both China and Russia. Jinping’s visit aligns with China and Russia’s efforts to enhance their political and economic influence in the developing world, particularly in light of escalating tensions with Western powers.
The discussions between President Ramaphosa and Xi laid the foundation for the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, where leaders from Brazil and India also convened. Russian President Vladimir Putin joined the summit virtually, marking the convergence of key global players to address shared challenges and opportunities.
