South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing, agreeing to elevate their countries’ relationship to an “All-Round Strategic Cooperative Partnership”.

The meeting, held ahead of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (Focac) Summit, saw both leaders reaffirm their commitment to strengthening political and economic ties.

President Ramaphosa welcomed the upgrade, saying it would “benefit both our countries and our people”. He also reiterated South Africa’s support for the One China Policy.

Key points from the meeting:

Bilateral trade increase acknowledged, but Ramaphosa stressed the need to narrow the deficit
Call for more Chinese investments in sustainable manufacturing and job creation in South Africa
Appreciation expressed for China’s support during South Africa’s recent BRICS Summit presidency
Discussion of global conflicts affecting Africa and the Global South
South Africa’s commitment to highlighting developmental challenges at next year’s G20 Summit, which it will host
The upgraded partnership puts South Africa in a select group of nations with which China maintains such close ties.

“Our elevated levels of mutual trust will accommodate each other’s interests, views and concerns – and deepen our cooperation as we build a shared future,” President Ramaphosa said.

This meeting comes as China continues to expand its influence in Africa, with some Western observers expressing concern about the continent’s growing economic reliance on Beijing.

The Focac Summit, now in its ninth iteration, is seen as a key platform for China-Africa cooperation and is expected to yield further agreements on trade and development.

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