On August 22, 2023, the Press Center of the Chinese delegation held a briefing for Chinese and foreign media in Johannesburg, South Africa, and invited Director-General of the Department of African Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Wu Peng to brief the media on President Xi Jinping's state visit to South Africa and answer questions from the journalists.
Wu Peng said this is President Xi Jinping's fourth state visit to South Africa, and also the first visit by the Chinese top leader to Africa since the successful conclusion of the 20th CPC National Congress, which fully demonstrates the great importance China attaches to developing China-South Africa and China-Africa relations. He noted that the complete success of this visit has injected fresh impetus into the development of China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership.
During the visit, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa. The two heads of state had an in-depth exchange of views on the development of China-South Africa and China-Africa relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest, and reached important common understandings on a number of issues. President Ramaphosa personally greeted President Xi Jinping at the airport, held a welcoming ceremony for President Xi at the President's official residence, and conferred on President Xi the Order of South Africa, the highest decoration and honor South Africa awards to the heads of state of friendly countries. The two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of 11 cooperation documents on Belt and Road, new energy power, agricultural product, special economic zone, industrial park, blue economy, scientific and technological innovation, and higher education.
The two sides also issued a Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa. South Africa reaffirmed its firm commitment to the one-China policy, and expressed the view that the Chinese path to modernization has offered South Africa a lot of experience, and that South Africa appreciates China's leading role in promoting global peace and cooperation. China pledged to continue to support South Africa in meeting energy security challenges and support South Africa's BRICS chairmanship this year. The two sides will work together to build a high-level China-South Africa community with a shared future, continue to support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, and further strengthen cooperation in international affairs.
Wu Peng stressed that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa. Over the past 25 years, bilateral relations have achieved leapfrog development, acquiring increasing strategic significance and global influence. Especially in recent years, under the joint attention and guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Ramaphosa, the China-South Africa relationship has entered a "golden era". The two heads of state agreed that the key to the strong relations and deep friendship between China and South Africa lies in the fact that the two countries and the two political parties have stood together through thick and thin in their respective pursuit of development paths and forged deep bonds of "comrades-plus-brothers" friendship. Going forward, the two sides will seek greater synergy between development strategies, step up cooperation in such areas as infrastructure building, energy transition and poverty reduction, jointly explore new growth drivers for cooperation, and firmly pursue the paths to modernization suited to their respective national conditions. Wu said this year is the "Year of South Africa" for BRICS. China supports South Africa in hosting the 15th BRICS Summit, and will work together with South Africa to promote progress in BRICS membership expansion, and jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.
Wu then gave a brief on the upcoming China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue in answering relevant questions.
He also answered questions on China-South Africa cooperation on Belt and Road, economy and trade, energy, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, tourism, and inter-party exchanges, as well as questions on China-Africa cooperation, investment in Africa, and peace and security in Africa, among others.
Journalists from more than 30 Chinese and foreign media, including the Mail and Guardian, and Business Times of South Africa, BRICS Africa Channel, Reuters, L'Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Economist, People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency, China Media Group (CMG), China Daily, China News Service, Phoenix TV, and Global Times, were present at the briefing.
