18-8-2023 (BEIJING) Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to embark on a significant state visit to South Africa next week, announced the foreign ministry on Friday (August 18). This announcement comes in conjunction with confirmation of President Xi’s participation in the upcoming BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summit in Johannesburg. The geopolitical landscape has marked Africa as a renewed diplomatic arena, with global powers such as the West, Russia, and China strategically vying for influence amidst intensified competition for vital resources and international tensions stemming from conflicts like the Ukraine crisis.
According to Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, President Xi Jinping’s visit is at the gracious invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa. The journey is scheduled from August 21 to August 24 and will encompass his attendance at the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg. The summit, themed “BRICS and Africa,” will witness the gathering of the heads of state of Brazil, China, India, and South Africa, alongside Russia’s top diplomat, to discuss pertinent global and regional issues.
President Xi’s upcoming visit marks his second international trip of 2023, following an official state visit to Russia in March. This diplomatic endeavour underscores China’s ongoing commitment to fostering diplomatic and economic ties with nations across the globe.
Amidst anticipation surrounding the BRICS conference, notable attention has been directed towards the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The International Criminal Court (ICC) had sought Putin’s extradition due to his role in the Ukraine conflict. However, in a recent development, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson confirmed that Putin would not be attending this year’s BRICS conference, a decision that was reached through mutual agreement.
China has exhibited its interest in enhancing its connections with Africa. In July, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune visited Beijing, culminating in a joint statement that highlighted China’s warm relations with Africa and voiced support for Algeria’s aspirations to join BRICS.
The summit’s agenda also extends to discussions on the potential expansion of BRICS membership, with various African nations expressing their desire to become part of this influential bloc. Algeria, Egypt, and Ethiopia are among those who have signalled interest in joining BRICS, a move that could further amplify the bloc’s global impact and influence.
As China’s President Xi Jinping embarks on this pivotal journey, his interactions and engagements with leaders from across the BRICS spectrum and the African continent are poised to shape the future trajectory of international relations and cooperation.
