South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his visiting Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Tuesday agreed to deepen bilateral relations because the latter mentioned the 2 nations had been “standing at a new historical starting point.”
Xi arrived in South Africa late Monday for a state go to and to attend the fifteenth BRICS Summit in Johannesburg which is ready to start Tuesday afternoon till Thursday.
“South Africa is truly honored to have received Xi Jinping. It was an absolute joy for me to meet him as he disembarked from the plane,” Ramaphosa mentioned at a media briefing shortly after their bilateral conferences.
This yr, China and South Africa mark 25 years of their diplomatic relations.
The two leaders additionally mentioned the continued Russia-Ukraine battle and agreed that dialogue was the most suitable choice to finish the battle.
They additionally agreed that BRICS ought to play a extra world function.
The BRICS at present contains 5 countries-Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa-and enlargement of the group is anticipated to be excessive on the agenda.
Speaking in Chinese, Xi mentioned China helps South Africa in enjoying a strategic function on worldwide levels.
He mentioned the 2 international locations have to proceed to assist one another “on issues where they share common interests.”
“The relationship between the people of South Africa and China stretches back many decades. We recall with deep gratitude the support of the Chinese people for our struggle for freedom and democracy,” mentioned the South African president.
‘VALUED PARTNERSHIP’
Ramaphosa mentioned China has been a valued buddy and developmental accomplice of South Africa all through the course of rebuilding the nation from the ruins of apartheid.
Addressing Ramaphosa, the Chinese president mentioned: “Standing at a new historical starting point, inheriting the China-South Africa friendship, deepening cooperation and strengthening collaboration are mutual wishes of both countries and also the significant responsibility of our times.”
Xi mentioned he was “willing to work alongside” his South African counterpart to “push the China-South Africa partnership into new heights.”
“Under the leadership of President Ramaphosa,” Xi mentioned, in response to a transcript launched by Beijing-based Global Times, “South Africa enjoys a growing national building and international influence.”
“China is pleased about this and wishes South Africa even greater progress on its development path,” Xi advised Ramaphosa because the journey marked the Chinese president’s second official go to out of China this yr after he paid a state go to to Russia in March.
The two leaders additionally witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation agreements.
According to China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC), Beijing’s commerce with BRICS international locations soared 19.1% within the first seven months of the present yr, totaling round 2.38 trillion yuan (about $326.85 billion).
This accounts for 10.1% of China’s whole overseas commerce worth throughout the January-July interval.
Xi can even co-chair with Ramaphosa the China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue within the South African capital on Wednesday.
This would be the first face-to-face summit for the reason that finish of the COVID-19 pandemic.
China’s commerce with African nations surged final yr to $282 billion, with Beijing importing items and providers from the continent for round $117.51 billion.
South Africa is the largest exporter amongst African nations to China.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
