President Xi Jinping of China Receives Warm Welcome in South Africa Ahead of 15th BRICS Summit
In a significant diplomatic event, China’s President Xi Jinping has embarked on his fourth state visit to South Africa. This momentous occasion coincides with the 15th BRICS Summit, scheduled to take place from August 22 to 24.
President Xi’s arrival at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg was met with a display of cultural song and dance, along with an impressive military parade by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). This warm reception underlines the strong ties between China and South Africa.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa played host to President Xi Jinping at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where the two leaders engaged in discussions ahead of the BRICS summit. Notably, this summit brings together emerging economies from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, representing a quarter of the global economy and over 40 percent of the world’s population.
In an insightful weekly column, President Ramaphosa acknowledged the 25-year diplomatic partnership between South Africa and China, highlighting the profound impact of this collaboration on both nations. He praised China’s remarkable progress in lifting nearly 800 million people out of poverty over four decades and expressed South Africa’s eagerness to learn from China’s development journey.
As partners in development, China and South Africa share a common vision that trade and investment are pivotal factors in raising the living standards of their citizens. This commitment to mutual growth is expected to be at the forefront of discussions during the BRICS summit.
President Xi Jinping, along with other esteemed leaders like Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will actively participate in the BRICS summit. This summit will gather more than 30 heads of state and government representatives from various African nations, fostering valuable dialogues and collaborations.
While Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be attending the summit, South African Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will represent him. President Ramaphosa emphasized that South Africa remains steadfast in its commitment to independent decision-making and will not be swayed by global power dynamics.
In a televised State of the Nation address, President Ramaphosa emphasized that South Africa’s stance is rooted in maintaining its sovereignty and refraining from aligning with any specific global powers or influential blocs.
As the BRICS summit unfolds, the world eagerly anticipates the discussions and agreements that will shape the economic and political landscape of these emerging economies. This event marks a significant step in advancing collaboration and development among nations with shared goals and aspirations.
