Pretoria, August 1st—Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, met here today with Ronald Lamola, Member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC) and South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation. 

Liu stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa have provided important strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations, ushering in a “golden era” of building a high-level China-South Africa community with a shared future. The Chinese side is willing to work with the South African side to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state. Focusing on the implementation of the “Nine Programs” of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the 10 Years Strategic Programme on Cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa (2020-2029), both sides need to strengthen the deep alignment of development strategies, consolidate cooperation in advantageous areas, cultivate new growth drivers for cooperation, achieve mutual benefits, win-win results and common development, and continuously benefit the people of both countries. 

Liu said, both China and South Africa are influential developing countries and emerging market nations. The Chinese side supports the South African side in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs and is willing to continue to work with the South African side under multilateral mechanisms such as the BRICS cooperation mechanism and the Group of 20, practice true multilateralism, strengthen the Global South countries' representation and voice in the global governance system, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries. The new meeting of the FOCAC will be held in Beijing. The Chinese side is willing to work with African countries, including South Africa, to achieve more win-win outcomes in China-Africa cooperation. 

Lamola stated, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s successful visit to South Africa last year injected strong impetus into the future development of bilateral relations. South Africa is grateful to the Chinese side for providing valuable support in its struggle for national independence and construction. He expressed the hope to expand mutually beneficial cooperation with the Chinese side in areas such as trade and investment. The South African side also hoped that the Chinese side can help it address prominent issues in its development process, advance industrialization, and promote the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between South Africa and China. He said the foreign policy of the new South African government will not change and that South Africa will continue to firmly adhere to the one-China principle, steadfastly support China’s positions on issues concerning China’s core interests related to the Taiwan question, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Xizang. South Africa highly appreciates China’s significant role in promoting the improvement of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and facilitating the reconciliation of Palestinian factions. He expressed the hope to strengthen coordination with the Chinese side within BRICS and the Group of 20. South Africa looks forward to participating in the 2024 FOCAC Summit in Beijing, believing that the summit will help African countries advance the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and promote greater development in Africa-China relations. 

Both sides exchanged views on international and regional issues such as the Ukraine crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.