South Africa, China Reaffirm Strong Ties During State Visit

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a state visit in Pretoria on Tuesday, reaffirming their countries’ strong ties and cooperation.

The visit coincided with the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Africa and China.

In his media remarks, Ramaphosa said that South Africa is grateful for China’s support and friendship, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also noted that China is South Africa’s largest trading partner and that the two countries have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in a number of areas, including trade, investment, infrastructure development, energy, tourism, education and training, and digital technologies.

Tinashe Mpasiri, a member of the Banking On Africa’s Future (BOAF) Network and an expert on international relations, emphasized the importance of this state visit.

“This is a very significant visit,” Mpasiri said. “It comes at a time when the world is facing a number of challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and climate change. China and South Africa are both important players on the global stage, and this visit is an opportunity for them to reaffirm their commitment to working together to address these challenges.”

Mpasiri said that the two countries are likely to discuss ways to deepen their economic cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade and investment. They are also likely to discuss ways to cooperate on multilateral issues, such as the reform of the United Nations Security Council.

“This state visit is a positive development for both South Africa and China,” Mpasiri said. “It is a sign of the strong ties that exist between the two countries, and it is an opportunity for them to work together to address the challenges facing the world.”

In addition to the state visit, Xi Jinping is also attending the 15th BRICS Summit, which is being held in Sandton, South Africa. BRICS is an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The summit is an opportunity for the leaders of these countries to discuss a range of issues, including economic cooperation, security, and climate change.

The state visit by Xi Jinping and the BRICS Summit are both important events that highlight the strong ties between South Africa and China. These events are also a sign of the growing importance of Africa in the global economy.