China ‘values’ South Africa's role as major developing country: Top diplomat

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Beijing “values” the role of South Africa as a “major” developing nation, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor.

The two met Monday on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ summit in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.

Wang called for strengthening high-level exchanges between China and South Africa to “consolidate political mutual trust,” said a statement released by Beijing on Tuesday.

The top Chinese diplomat said the two sides “continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests.”

“China values South Africa's role as a major developing country and is willing to enhance multilateral coordination, provide objective, balanced, and constructive voices on hotspot issues such as the Ukraine crisis, and contribute to world peace and stability,” said Wang.

Dubbing cooperation with China as “the most important part of Africa's international cooperation, Pandor said South Africa looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in areas, including infrastructure, digital economy, renewable energy, and human resources development “in line with Africa's development needs.”

She lauded China's efforts in “politically resolving the Ukraine crisis and promoting a cease-fire in Gaza,” the statement said.