Blueprint for a third Golden Decade
ON THE eve of a BRICS Summit and state visit by President Xi Jinping, it’s all about co-operation, writes LIN SONGTIAN
THIS year marks the 20th anniversary of China-South Africa diplomatic relations, the 10th BRICS Summit and the third state visit by President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China.
President Xi is also going to visit the United Arab Emirates, Senegal, Rwanda, and Mauritius. This first overseas visit by President Xi in 2018 bears far-reaching significance as a major diplomatic engagement by China with the developing countries of Africa and the Middle East.
Over the past 10 years, BRICS co-operation has made remarkable progress. In response to the global financial crisis and slow world economic recovery, BRICS countries have emerged from the adversity in unity and co-operation and shown momentum and vitality.
The economic aggregate of BRICS countries has increased by 179% and trade has grown by 94%, contributing to more than half of world economic growth, making it the main engine for world economic growth.
BRICS co-operation has brought concrete benefits to the peoples of not only BRICS countries, but the global community, offering the world a new choice of development and prosperity.
Today, the international situation and the global structure is going through unprecedented, profound and complicated changes.
A certain superpower, in its extreme pursuit of self-interest, has recklessly implemented unilateralism and protectionism, outrageously challenging world peace and justice, and undermining economic globalisation and the multilateral trading regime.
Against such grave challenges, stronger unity and closer co-operation of the BRICS countries with common voices for equity and justice and commitment to upholding the shared interests of the world community have become the common aspiration of the world.
This year’s BRICS Summit, about to be held in Johannesburg, will continue the approach of “BRICS+” adopted by the BRICS Xiamen Summit of last year.
The theme “BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in the 4th Industrial Revolution” responds to the trend of the times and meets the expectation of the people.
We are confident that the BRICS Johannesburg Summit will sketch out a new blueprint for the second “Golden Decade” and make new and greater contribution to promoting world peace and development, promoting a new type of international relations and building a community with a shared future for mankind.
As an important participant, contributor and beneficiary of BRICS co-operation, South Africa has already become an important bridge connecting BRICS to the African continent. From 2011 to 2016, South Africa’s trade with other BRICS partners increased by 54.7%. The New Development Bank Africa Regional Centre established in Johannesburg last year boasts a huge potential in further supporting and promoting economic and social development of South Africa and other African countries.
The BRICS Johannesburg Summit is the first major diplomatic event hosted by President Cyril Ramaphosa since taking office. It is also the second BRICS Summit hosted by South Africa. The South African government and people from all sectors of society are looking forward to a successful BRICS Summit to further enhance BRICS unity and co-operation. We are confident that this summit will be a historic event, not only for BRICS, but for the whole of Africa.
As the most important co-operation partner with South Africa, over the past two decades China’s relations with South Africa have grown from partnership to strategic partnership and to comprehensive strategic partnership.
China-SA relations now enjoy four advantages: mutual political trust, mutually beneficial economic co-operation, people-topeople friendship and co-ordination in international affairs.
China-SA relations have become strategic, all-round, and win-win, and are supported by four major co-operation platforms: Focac, BRICS, the Belt and Road initiative and South-South Co-operation. China-SA co-operation has already become a great example for China-Africa co-operation and South-South co-operation at large.
China has for nine years remained South Africa’s largest trading partner and one of the most important sources of foreign investment and tourists. By the end of 2017, China had, in accumulative terms, invested over $25billion (R335bn) in South Africa, creating over 400000 local jobs. In 2017, China-South Africa bilateral trade reached $39.17bn, a 25-fold increase, compared with the $1.5bn in 1998 at the start of our diplomatic ties.
All major financial institutions from China have set up branches and offices in South Africa, providing strong financial support for the deepening of win-win co-operation between our two countries.
China-South Africa friendship enjoys strong public support. Today, South Africa stands as the largest host in Africa for Chinese tourists, students, overseas Chinese, as well as the Confucius Institutes and Classrooms.
Both China and South Africa regard each other as the strategic priority in their respective foreign policies and are committed to constantly consolidating and deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership.
Today, China and South Africa have already become major forces in promoting more fair and just international governance.
Our two countries have maintained close co-operation in Focac, BRICS, G20 and the UN, firmly upholding the shared interests of China, South Africa and developing countries of the world.
South Africa, with its rich resources, superb location and unrivalled foundation and conditions for economic development in Africa, is the most mature country for deepening China-Africa winwin co-operation. With China’s comparative strengths in capital, technology, market population, enterprises, and successful development experience, China and South Africa complement and need each other with our respective strengths and are facing historic opportunities to synergise our development strategies for win-win co-operation for common development.
China stands ready to deepen friendly and mutually beneficial co-operation with South Africa across the board. China will fully support South Africa to become the locomotive and production base to drive African industrialisation and modernisation. We will fully support South Africa to become a pilot demonstration country for connecting the Belt and Road construction with Africa.
I strongly believe that the visit by President Xi to South Africa will chart a new course and make new plans for even stronger ChinaSouth Africa comprehensive strategic partnership and BRICS co-operation, ushering in a new chapter for China-South Africa relations and BRICS co-operation.
Lin is the ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to South Africa