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

 

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Beijing early Monday to attend the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit on September 4–5, 2024. This significant diplomatic event, hosted by China, aims to strengthen modernization efforts and deepen collaboration within the China-Africa alliance.

As a key BRICS member and Africa’s second-largest economy, South Africa plays a pivotal role in China-Africa relations. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $55.6 billion in 2023, accounting for about 20% of China’s trade with Africa. South Africa’s ambassador to China, Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele, highlighted the potential for Chinese investment, particularly in new energy, technology, and digitalization, emphasizing their role in transforming sectors like government, health, and agriculture.

The strong China-South Africa partnership, established in 1998, has been marked by high-level engagements, mutual support, and cooperation in global affairs. Under the theme “Collaborating to Promote Modernization and Establish a High-Level China-Africa Community for a Shared Future,” the upcoming FOCAC Summit will further cement this alliance. Key figures attending include African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to deliver a keynote address on September 5, emphasizing the summit’s role in advancing Africa’s industrialization and Agenda 2063.

As the first African country to sign a Belt and Road cooperation agreement with China in 2015, South Africa has led the way in fostering China-Africa ties, incorporating Chinese language education and hosting the continent’s most Confucius Institutes. The 2024 FOCAC Summit builds on the successes of past meetings, promising to enhance the vibrant China-Africa partnership and mark a pivotal moment in their continued cooperation.

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