Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that China firmly supported South Africa’s pursuit of a development path that suited its national conditions.
Wang made this known at a meeting with South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China would continue to provide assistance within its capacity for South Africa’s development.
He said that China and South Africa bear significant responsibilities in promoting solidarity and cooperation.
According to him, the two developing countries are representatives of emerging economies, whose interests must be safeguarded as that of the Global South.
He added that China was willing to work with African countries to uphold self-reliance and self-strengthening, unity and cooperation, keeping the nations’ destiny firmly in their own hands.
Responding, Lamola said that South Africa firmly adhered to the One-China principle and was willing to deepen practical cooperation with China in economy and trade, new energy, education and capacity-building.
He noted that the current unilateral protectionism was impacting the multilateral trading system and threatening sustainable development in Africa.
The Brazilian minister emphasised the need for enhanced cooperation among the Global South nation states.
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