Thu Sep 19 07:27:33 UTC 2024: ## China-South Africa Ties Strengthen at FOCAC Summit: A New Era of Partnership
**Beijing, China** – The recent 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing, the largest diplomatic event hosted by China in recent years, has seen a significant strengthening of relations between China and South Africa.
South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, in an exclusive interview with the Global Times, hailed the relationship between the two nations as entering a “golden era,” marked by the recent upgrade to an “all-round strategic cooperative partnership.”
“This is a clear indication of the deep trust between our two nations,” said Lamola.
China is South Africa’s largest trading partner, and South Africa is China’s largest trading partner on the African continent. China’s investment has created thousands of jobs in South Africa, and the country has opened its markets to South African products such as avocados and beef.
Looking towards the future, Lamola highlighted areas of potential collaboration, including:
* **Electric vehicles, clean technology, and green energy**
* **Artificial intelligence, digital economy, and green economy**
* **Harbor management**
* **People-to-people exchanges**, including sending South African students to China for education and vocational training
Lamola also emphasized the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), highlighting the role of China-Africa infrastructure cooperation in facilitating the movement of goods and contributing to the AfCFTA’s success.
The minister expressed South Africa’s desire to learn from China’s successful modernization experience to alleviate poverty and accelerate its own modernization process.
On the topic of international order, Lamola emphasized the importance of multilateralism and the need for global powers to coexist peacefully and cooperate. He called for China and South Africa, both key members of the Global South, to work together to promote a fairer and more just international order.
Lamola stressed the importance of the Global South adhering to independence and autonomy while uniting and cooperating to uphold international fairness and justice. South Africa will continue to engage in global platforms like the United Nations, the African Union, and FOCAC to support the modernization of the Global South in alignment with their national conditions.
“We are glad that the role of China in our country has been one of non-interference with our domestic politics, and the work that we engaged with China is mutually beneficial,” concluded Lamola.
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