Next week, South Africa will host the president of China, the world’s second-largest economy. Xi Jinping will be leading a group of leaders from BRICS nations during their visit to South Africa. This official state visit has been scheduled to coincide with the 15th BRICS summit in Sandton.
South Africa is currently dealing with an ongoing energy crisis, high unemployment rates, and a declining economy. As a result, there is a lot of hope that the energy agreement between China and South Africa, which will be signed by Xi Jinping and Cyril Ramaphosa, could bring significant benefits to the country.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s upcoming official visit to South Africa, where he will also participate in the 15th BRICS summit in Sandton, might be the perfect solution to alleviate South Africa’s ongoing power crisis.
China and South Africa’s relationship is expected to strengthen when Xi visits South Africa. During his visit, Xi and President Cyril Ramaphosa will witness the signing of strategic agreements between the two countries in areas such as electricity, energy infrastructure, trade, investment, science, and technology.
Chinese ambassador to South Africa, Chen Xiaodong, emphasised the importance of President Xi’s fourth state visit to South Africa in five years. During a media briefing in Pretoria, Xiaodong stated that the two countries would enhance their cooperation, giving “a boost to South Africa’s growth and employment, benefiting the two peoples”.
Chen said the cooperation between the two countries on economic and trade matters has been advantageous for both parties. This has resulted in China consistently being South Africa’s biggest trading ally for 14 consecutive years.
“South Africa has been China’s largest trading partner in Africa for 13 years straight.
“On the people-to-people front, the two countries enjoy sound mutual learning.
“During the state visit, President Xi Jinping and President Ramaphosa, will have wide-ranging and in-depth exchanges of views on China-South Africa relations, China-Africa relations, BRICS cooperation and international and regional issues of common concern.
“The two Heads of State will review our two countries’ traditional friendship, and usher in a new chapter of cooperation that promises an even better future.
“China-South Africa relations and win-win cooperation in various fields.
The South African side attaches great importance to the state visit and made high-profile and thoughtful arrangements,” said Chen.
He added: “During the visit, the two sides will continue to further connect high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and South Africa’s economic reconstruction and recovery plans.
“The focus will be on energy infrastructure, trade and investment and documents will be signed in economy and trade, electricity, science and technology.
“These will all be great cooperation results that will give a boost to South Africa’s growth and employment and bring benefit to the two peoples.”
During the state visit, Ramaphosa and Xi will co-chair a China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue.
With a total of 23 countries have formally applied to join the BRICS, Chen said expansion has become “the top trending issue at the moment”.
“Expansion is key to enhancing BRICS mechanism’s vitality. I believe that this year’s summit will witness new and more solid steps on this front,” maintained Chen.
Over the past 17 years, BRICS countries “adhered to the principle of openness and inclusiveness”.
“We put into practice a brand-new concept of cooperation and held many dialogue meetings with leaders of relevant regional countries.
“BRICS has made possible a dynamic for the collective rise of new major countries, which has received high recognition and trust from among the developing countries.
“China has been actively promoting BRICS expansion and strengthening BRICS partnerships with other countries.”
“The international community is eagerly looking forward to stronger BRICS solidarity and cooperation, so that BRICS can play a leading role to usher in new visions for world peace and development.
“China has always been a staunch supporter of and participant in BRICS solidarity and cooperation.
“In March 2013, when President Xi Jinping made his first trip abroad to attend an international multilateral conference as president, he was here in South Africa for the BRICS Durban Summit.
“Since then, President Xi Jinping has presided over or attended BRICS Summits for 10 years in a row.
“He put forward Chinese initiatives and contributed Chinese wisdom to deepening BRICS solidarity,” said Chen.
The BRICS summit – also to be attended by African leaders – is taking place from the 22 to 24 August in Sandton.