South African President Ramaphosa Arrives in Beijing for 2024 FOCAC Summit

Early Monday morning, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Beijing to participate in the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, set to take place on September 4-5, 2024. The summit, themed "Collaborating to Promote Modernization and Establish a High-Level China-Africa Community for a Shared Future," is the largest diplomatic event hosted by China in recent years.

South Africa, the continent's second-largest economy and a BRICS member, plays a pivotal role in the China-Africa relationship. In 2023, trade between China and South Africa reached $55.6 billion, accounting for roughly 20% of China's total trade with Africa.

Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele, South Africa's ambassador to China, highlighted the vast opportunities for Chinese investment in South Africa, particularly in the new energy sector, digital transformation, and technology-driven industries. "We need to transform all of our production, from agriculture to health and government, to be digitized," Cwele emphasized.

Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1998, China and South Africa have maintained robust high-level exchanges and mutual support on key issues. The upcoming FOCAC summit will further strengthen this partnership, with several African leaders, including African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres attending as a special guest.

The summit's opening ceremony on September 5 will feature a keynote address by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The event is expected to yield a strong declaration and a detailed implementation plan, particularly focusing on Africa's industrialization and the continent's Agenda 2063 initiative.

South Africa has been a cornerstone of China-Africa relations, being the first African nation to sign a Belt and Road cooperation memorandum with China in 2015. The country has since integrated the Chinese language into its national education system and recognized September 17 as South African Chinese Language Day.

As the most popular destination for Chinese travelers in Africa and with China being South Africa's top trading partner for 15 consecutive years, the FOCAC summit promises to be a significant milestone in the enduring and vibrant partnership between the two nations.