China and South Africa Establish a New Era of Strategic Cooperation

Beijing, 2 September 2024 — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Chinese President Xi Jinping have announced the establishment of an “All-Round Strategic Cooperative Partnership in a New Era” between China and South Africa, marking a significant enhancement of bilateral relations. This announcement was made during President Ramaphosa’s state visit to China, where the two leaders held extensive talks on bilateral, regional, and global issues.

The state visit comes as the two countries reaffirm their commitment to deepening ties and cooperation in various sectors, reflecting a shared vision of a prosperous future. This partnership aims to strengthen political ties, balanced trade, and economic growth, with a focus on high-quality, transformative development.

Strengthening Political and Economic Ties

In their discussions, the leaders highlighted the importance of political trust and mutual support. President Xi congratulated President Ramaphosa on his re-election, expressing confidence in South Africa’s path toward national unity and prosperity. President Ramaphosa, in turn, congratulated China on the 75th anniversary of its founding and acknowledged the remarkable achievements under the Communist Party’s leadership.

The partnership will focus on synergizing China’s Belt and Road Initiative with South Africa’s National Development Plan. Both countries agreed to leverage existing bilateral mechanisms to expand economic and trade ties, increase market access, and boost two-way investments. This includes promoting industrial cooperation, technology transfer, and job creation, with a particular emphasis on the digital economy, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence.

Global Cooperation and Shared Values

China and South Africa also pledged to work together on the global stage to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world. They emphasized the importance of reforming international institutions like the United Nations Security Council to better represent developing countries. Both sides reaffirmed their opposition to unilateralism, protectionism, and the decoupling of global supply chains.

The leaders also addressed pressing global issues, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. They called for peaceful negotiations and dialogue as the only viable solutions to these conflicts, stressing the importance of upholding international law and ensuring the rights and sovereignty of all nations.

Advancing China-Africa Relations

The state visit also underscored the commitment of both nations to enhancing China-Africa relations. The leaders commended the outcomes of the recent China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue and expressed optimism about the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing. The partnership is expected to further align with Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

As part of the visit, several bilateral agreements were signed, including cooperation on satellite navigation, sustainable housing, and dairy product exports, among others. These agreements are expected to foster deeper economic integration and cooperation in various fields.

President Ramaphosa expressed his gratitude to President Xi and the Chinese people for their warm hospitality, marking the visit as a significant milestone in the long-standing friendship between South Africa and China. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working together towards a prosperous and peaceful future, not only for their nations but also for the broader Global South.