Chinese FM Meets South African Minister in Presidency in New Delhi, Calls for Stronger BRICS Unity
NEW DELHI – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with South African Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni in New Delhi on Monday, with both sides pledging to deepen bilateral ties and strengthen coordination within the BRICS framework.
Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, described China and South Africa as representatives of emerging economies and founding members of BRICS. He said the two nations have always firmly upheld multilateralism, advocated greater democracy in international relations, maintained close high-level exchanges, and deepened practical cooperation in various fields, setting an example of solidarity and cooperation among the Global South.
At present, Wang warned, unilateralism and the law of the jungle are harming the legitimate rights and interests of all countries and undermining the norms governing international relations. “As the backbone of the Global South, BRICS countries need to strengthen solidarity and coordination, jointly make BRICS an even brighter golden brand of unity and self-reliance among developing countries, work together to defend international fairness and justice, and maintain world peace and stability,” he said.
Highlighting China’s role as a trustworthy friend and partner of South Africa and Africa, Wang said China-South Africa relations have maintained a sound momentum of steady development. The two sides should implement the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, adhere to mutual respect and win-win cooperation, and continuously improve exchange mechanisms at all levels, he added.
Wang further called on both countries to consolidate and deepen strategic mutual trust, jointly expand the pie of cooperation, and make full use of the policy dividends brought by the zero-tariff policy and the “green channel 2.0” for African agricultural and food products entering the Chinese market. He said these measures would inject strong impetus into the joint efforts of China and South Africa, as well as China and Africa, to advance modernization.
South Africa Reaffirms One-China Policy
Ntshavheni, for her part, said South Africa attaches great importance to developing relations with China and has always regarded China as a reliable friend. She expressed South Africa’s gratitude for China’s long-term support and assistance to South Africa and Africa, particularly the benefits brought by China’s zero-tariff policy to people in African countries.
South Africa looks forward to maintaining close high-level exchanges with China and strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, cybersecurity and infrastructure, Ntshavheni said. She added that the country is committed to pushing South Africa-China and Africa-China relations to a new level.
On matters of principle, Ntshavheni stated that South Africa firmly adheres to the one-China policy. She expressed readiness to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS, jointly safeguard the rights and interests of developing countries, revitalize multilateral mechanisms, and advance the process of world multipolarity.
