Joining the 2024 FOCAC Summit in Beijing, South African President strengthens China-Africa Relationship

Arriving in Beijing early Monday morning, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was slated to attend the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit on September 4th and 5th, 2024. Hosted by China, this important diplomatic event seeks to promote more thorough modernization and cooperation inside the China-Africa alliance.

Key member of the BRICS group and second-largest economy in Africa, South Africa has been central in China-Africa ties. About 20% of China’s total commerce with South Africa is bilateral, so in 2023 bilateral trade between China and South Africa reached an amazing $55.6 billion.

As South Africa’s ambassador to China, Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele emphasized the possibility for Chinese investment in South Africa, especially in the new energy industry. As areas of future cooperation, he underlined the value of technology and digitalization in modernizing several sectors, including government, health, and agriculture.

China and South Africa have had a strong relationship distinguished by high-level interactions, mutual support on important issues, and close cooperation in world affairs since signing diplomatic ties in 1998. Under the theme “Collaborating to Promote Modernization and Establish a High-Level China-Africa Community for a Shared Future,” the forthcoming FOCAC Summit will confirm this cooperation even more.

Leading their respective delegations, the meeting will include prominent African leaders including Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairman of the African Union Commission. Attending as a special guest as well, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will be accompanied by international and regional organizations acting as observers.

At the opening ceremony on September 5th, Chinese President Xi Jinping is slated to give a keynote speech marking the biggest diplomatic meeting China has held recently. Regarding the results of the summit, Ambassador Cwele voiced hope especially about Africa’s industrialization and the progress of Agenda 2063, a vital developmental initiative for the continent.

Rising first among African countries to sign a Belt and Road cooperation memorandum with China in 2015, South Africa has been a pathfinder in China-Africa ties. Since then, the nation has included the Chinese language into its national curriculum, opened the most Confucius Institutes and classrooms on the continent, and observed September 17 as South African Chinese Language Day.

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For 15 years China has been South Africa’s top trading partner; for 14 years South Africa has been China’s greatest commercial partner in Africa. For Chinese visitors on the continent, South Africa also continues to be the most often chosen country.

Building on the achievements of past FOCAC summits in 2006, 2015, and 2018, the 2024 FOCAC Summit promises to improve the dynamic China-Africa cooperation and mark a major turning point in the continuous cooperation between the two countries.