South Africa's Minister Lamola Meets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi To Discuss Key Issues

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa Ronald Lamola met Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi on Sunday to discuss bilateral, multilateral and geopolitical issues of shared interest.

The meeting happened in Beijing ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa's upcoming second State Visit to China and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit later this week.

"In this inaugural meeting, the two Ministers discussed the enduring ties between the two nations, spanning many areas of cooperation," the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said, SA News reported.

It added, "They agreed to address issues such as the structure of bilateral trade significantly and to increase mutually beneficial investments in areas such as agriculture, energy, manufacturing, the automotive sector, green technologies and infrastructure."

China is South Africa's biggest global trading partner, and South Africa is China's top trading partner in Africa. Bilateral trade increased from R614 billion in 2022 to R692 billion in 2023.

The recent discussion was focused on South Africa's efforts to add value to its resources, improve market access, grow the economy, create local jobs and transfer skills.

South Africa believes that the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) should align with the African Union's Agenda 2063, particularly the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan, as per the department.

Furthermore, implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will boost intra-Africa trade, enhance economic growth, and address the continent's infrastructure needs.

The department said that through FOCAC, China provides a unique platform for contributing to continental and regional projects, including integration efforts. The minister also discussed cooperation in multilateral settings and through organizations like BRICS and the G20.

The minister praised China's recent efforts to help reconcile Palestinian factions, which led to the signing of the Beijing Declaration. He noted that these efforts are important for peace and show China's important role.

Both Ministers agreed that the United Nations including the Security Council require comprehensive reform to improve its response to global challenges and enhance representation from developing countries.

They believe this will support the aspirations of emerging and developing nations from Africa, Asia, and Latin America to play a larger role in international affairs, especially at the UN, as per the department.