The close brotherly relations between China and South Africa have been underlined by a number of recent diplomatic encounters.
On June 9, President Xi Jinping held phone talks with his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramphosa, in which the Chinese leader said that the two countries are both important major developing countries and enjoy special friendly relations like brothers.
China-South Africa relations are of important strategic significance to safeguarding the common interests of developing countries and guiding China-Africa solidarity and cooperation, Xi added.
China supports South Africa, as the rotating chair, in successfully hosting various BRICS cooperation activities this year.
Ramaphosa said that South Africa supports China’s position paper on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and hopes that relevant parties could resume negotiations at an early date.
A peace delegation consisting of leaders of six African countries, including South Africa, will visit Russia and Ukraine to push for an end to the crisis as soon as possible, he added.
Xi told Ramaphosa that China’s position on the Ukraine crisis has been consistent, which is to promote peace talks.
The Chinese leader said that he hopes all parties will build up favourable conditions for solving the crisis through dialogue, adding that it is a good thing that President Ramaphosa and leaders of relevant African countries have formed a peace delegation to visit Russia and Ukraine.
Earlier, from June 1-2, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu attended the Formal Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Relations and the Friends of BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.
BRICS countries, he said, should adhere to fairness and justice, adhere to self-confidence, self-reliance, independence and self-improvement, strengthen strategic communication and coordination with the vast number of developing countries, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
On June 7, Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC), met with a delegation of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa, led by its Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula.
Liu said, China and South Africa have a deep-rooted traditional friendship. With close institutionalised exchanges and communication between the CPC and the ANC, political mutual trust has been constantly strengthened. The Chinese side will continue to firmly support South Africa in exploring a development path that suits its national conditions and provide more development opportunities for African countries, including South Africa, through China’s high-quality development and the Chinese path to modernisation. The Chinese side supports the South African side in assuming the rotating presidency of the BRICS countries and is willing to actively participate in the “BRICS Plus” dialogue for political parties to be hosted by the ANC.
Mbalula expressed gratitude to the Chinese side for its valuable support in South Africa’s national liberation and development. He added that, under the strong leadership of the CPC, the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics has achieved great success, inspiring progressive forces worldwide. Through this visit, he said, we hope to learn from the CPC’s experience in state governance and administration to assist the ANC in building a democratic, prosperous, and free South Africa and promoting the economic and social development of the country.
On June 8, Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security, Wang Xiaohong met with South African Police Minister Bheki Cele in Beijing. Wang stressed the need to strengthen pragmatic cooperation in BRICS Summit security, Belt and Road security, the crackdown on transnational crimes and law enforcement capacity building.
The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency, the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the IDCPC.
Xi, Ramaphosa hold phone talks over bilateral ties, Ukraine crisis
Xinhua, 10 June 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday held phone talks with his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, pledging to promote China-South Africa ties, and calling for favorable conditions to solve the Ukraine crisis.
Xi said China and South Africa are both important major developing countries and the two enjoy special friendly relations like brothers.
China-South Africa relations are of important strategic significance to safeguarding the common interests of developing countries and guiding China-Africa solidarity and cooperation, Xi said.
He said this year marks the “Year of South Africa” for BRICS, and the development of bilateral relations is facing important opportunities.
China is ready to work with South Africa to upgrade bilateral relations, build a high-level China-South Africa community with a shared future, jointly practice genuine multilateralism, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and make the international order more just and equitable.
China, Xi said, supports South Africa, as the rotating chair, in successfully hosting various BRICS cooperation activities this year.
South Africa highly cherishes and is deeply proud of the strong and high-level strategic partnership with China, Ramaphosa said.
Cooperation between the two countries benefits Africa, he said, adding that South Africa is committed to working with China to promote the continuous development of South Africa-China relations.
South Africa will deepen communication and coordination with China and other BRICS members to strengthen BRICS cooperation, Ramaphosa added.
The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis.
Ramaphosa said that South Africa supports China’s position paper on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and hopes that relevant parties could resume negotiations at an early date.
A peace delegation consisting of leaders of six African countries, including South Africa, will visit Russia and Ukraine to push for an end to the crisis as soon as possible, he added.
Xi told Ramaphosa that China’s position on the Ukraine crisis has been consistent, which is to promote peace talks.
The Chinese leader said that he hopes all parties will build up favorable conditions for solving the crisis through dialogue, adding that it is a good thing that President Ramaphosa and leaders of relevant African countries formed a peace delegation to visit Russia and Ukraine.
It is also hoped that peace-loving countries worldwide which uphold justice can make a rational voice to promote peace talks, Xi said.
Ma Zhaoxu Attends the Formal Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Relations
Chinese Foreign Ministry, 2 June 2023
From June 1 to 2, 2023, Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu attended the Formal Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Relations and the Friends of BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.
Ma Zhaoxu said that BRICS countries should uphold the BRICS spirit featuring openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation to continuously deepen pragmatic cooperation and promote high-quality development. BRICS countries should adhere to fairness and justice, adhere to self-confidence, self-reliance, independence and self-improvement, strengthen strategic communication and coordination with vast developing countries, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China fully supports South Africa’s work as the BRICS chairmanship, and is ready to work with BRICS partners to ensure the complete success of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg. China welcomes and expects new members to join the BRICS family at an early date.
The BRICS foreign ministers said that under the new circumstances, it is necessary to strengthen BRICS cooperation, advance the solidarity and strength of developing countries, promote the reform of the global governance system, accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and contribute to the peaceful development of the world.
The BRICS foreign ministers issued a joint statement expounding on their positions and stances on BRICS cooperation, the international situation and global issues.
Liu Jianchao Meets with a Delegation of the National Executive Committee of the ANC of South Africa
International Department of the CPC, 7 June 2023
Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, met here today with a delegation of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa led by Fikile Mbalula, Secretary-General of the ANC.
Liu said, China and South Africa have a deep-rooted traditional friendship. Under the personal guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Cyril Ramaphosa, bilateral relations enjoy healthy and stable development, with fruitful results in various fields. With close institutionalized exchanges and communication between the CPC and the ANC, political mutual trust has been constantly strengthened. We welcome the ANC delegation, and hope that both sides will fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen strategic communication and high-level exchanges between the ruling parties, and engage in exchanges and mutual learning in the areas such as official training, women, youth, think tanks, media, and local development. Both sides should support each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns, and promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and South Africa for new development.
Liu said, the CPC and the ANC are currently shouldering the important mission of rejuvenating China and South Africa. The Chinese side will continue to firmly support South Africa in exploring a development path that suits its national conditions and provide more development opportunities for African countries, including South Africa, through China’s high-quality development and a Chinese path to modernization. The Chinese side supports the South African side in assuming the rotating presidency of the BRICS countries and is willing to actively participate in the “BRICS Plus” dialogue for political parties hosted by the ANC, jointly safeguard the interests of developing countries, promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, and oppose hegemonism and power politics. Both sides should jointly address global challenges and make contributions as political parties to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Mbalula expressed gratitude to the Chinese side for its valuable support in South Africa’s national liberation and development. Mbalula said, under the strong leadership of the CPC, the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics has achieved great success, inspiring progressive forces worldwide. President of the ANC and South Africa South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is honored to attend the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting. He appreciated and supported General Secretary Xi Jinping’s in-depth elaboration on a Chinese path to modernization and the Global Civilization Initiative, considering it aligns with South Africa’s policy philosophy. The South African side will continue to firmly adhere to the One-China principle and firmly support the Chinese side in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Mbalula said, the ANC regards the CPC as a long-term strategic partner and cherishes the special friendship between the two sides. The delegation of the National Executive Committee of the ANC of South Africa includes heads of the key department of the ANC and eight provincial committee secretaries. Through this visit, we hope to learn from the CPC’s experience on state governance and administration to assist the ANC in building a democratic, prosperous, and free South Africa and promoting the economic and social development of South Africa. It is hoped that both parties will enhance institutionalized exchanges, expand practical cooperation in areas such as economy, agriculture, and innovation, and jointly promote the development of South Africa-China relations and Africa-China relations, benefiting both countries and the African people. The South African side is willing to take the opportunity of the BRICS’s year of South Africa to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the Chinese side in the multilateral areas to promote global peace and development.
Li Mingxiang, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, and others attended the meeting.
China, South Africa pledge to strengthen security cooperation
Xinhua, 12 June 2023
Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong met with South African Police Minister Bheki Cele in Beijing on Thursday, and the two sides pledged to strengthen cooperation in security and law enforcement.
Noting practical cooperation between China and South Africa in various fields shows strong momentum, Wang said China is ready to work with South Africa to earnestly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen pragmatic cooperation in BRICS Summit security, Belt and Road security, crackdown on transnational crimes and law enforcement capacity building, promote personnel exchanges and cooperation mechanisms at all levels, and push for more development of the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership.
For his part, Cele said South Africa is willing to strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation with China so as to constantly advance bilateral relations.
