By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic inside

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has taken a trip to China in Changsha, Hunan province in order to attend the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) which will take place from 10-12 June 2025. “Our participation reflects our strategic priority to strengthen bilateral and multilateral relations within this important framework.” said Minister Lamola ahead of the Ministerial meeting.

The aim of this ministerial is to review the outcomes of the 2024 FOCAC Summit which took place in Beijing on the 5th-6th of September last year. The main talking points of this Ministerial will be to highlight ten partnership areas which include advancements in trading, developmental and connectivity cooperation and the industrial chain cooperation as per the FOCAC 2025-2027 action plan. This forum will go in tandem with the 25th anniversary of FOCAC which place emphasis on the long standing and enduring relationship between China and Africa whose partnership has increased notably due to China and U.S strained relationship with one another, together with the increased tariffs that U.S President Donald Trump has imposed on Africa, this has encouraged China to improve on its relations with Africa. “Faced with an international situation marked by changes and turmoil, China and Africa should uphold solidarity and self-reliance more than ever.” said the Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of the commencement of FOCAC. Chinese foreign Minister Wang Yi, has mentioned that the 21st Century belongs to both Asia and Africa in the wake of modernisation, specifically within developing countries if the 2.8 billion people of both continents can firmly work together.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Congo, Jean-Claude Gakosso, expressed gratitude to China on behalf of Africa for their everlasting support of Africa’s development, as they welcome the 10 partnership actions for modernization and support of the China-Africa cooperation vision of 2035. Gakosso added that Africa will help its people realise its potential of a better future by making implementations of the outcomes discussed in the Beijing Summit. This ministerial meeting is set to be followed up by the Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo which will take place from 12-15 June 2025 where further discussions will take place regarding more ways in which to bolster firm economic collaboration. No more than 20 South African countries will participate at the expo where they will be able to showcase their products and have the opportunity to engage with Chinese investors which could open further opportunities for South Africa and China to be involved with exporting of these South African products to the Chinese market.