Johannesburg, 8 Aug (ZXS) -- Why am I optimistic about the role of the BRICS mechanism in promoting China-Africa relations?

——Interview with Zhang Xiaomei, a well-known South African politician and social activist

China News Agency reporter Wang Xi

On the occasion of the 2023 BRICS Summit, the BRICS mechanism in the post-epidemic era has become more and more obvious in the development and promotion of China-South Africa and China-Africa relations, and has also attracted more and more attention from the people of China, South Africa and other countries.

Zhang Xiaomei, a well-known South African politician, social activist and member of parliament, recently gave an exclusive interview to the "East-West Question" of China News Agency, talking about the significance and good prospects of exchanges and cooperation between China and South Africa and even China and Africa under the BRICS mechanism.

The following is a summary of the interview:

China News Agency: Please sort out the development process of the BRICS mechanism.

Zhang Xiaomei: BRICS cooperation began with the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting held during the UN General Assembly in 2006 and was upgraded to a leaders' meeting mechanism in 2009, which is held once a year. In 1, Yugoslavia joined informally, and the BRICS countries were expanded to five countries, and the English name was set to BRICS. Since 2011, BRICS leaders have held 2009 meetings and 14 informal meetings. The 9th BRICS Summit will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Since its establishment 16 years ago, the BRICS mechanism has become increasingly solid in cooperation and gradually expanded its fields, forming an all-round and multi-level framework for practical cooperation in dozens of fields such as economy and trade, finance, science and technology, industry, agriculture, culture, education, health, think tanks, and sister cities, guided by the leaders' meeting and supported by the meeting of foreign ministers and the meeting of high representatives for security affairs. With the continuous enhancement of the national strength of the five countries, the BRICS cooperation has deepened, and the influence of cooperation has gone beyond the scope of the five countries, becoming a constructive force for promoting world economic growth, improving global governance and promoting democracy in international relations.

China News Agency: Under the BRICS mechanism, what are the characteristics of the development of China-South Africa relations?

Zhang Xiaomei: The People's Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa established diplomatic relations in 1998. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, bilateral relations have developed rapidly in an all-round way, and this year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Africa and China. It can be said that the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Yugoslavia and China is a major political decision made by the late former President Mandela on the basis of adhering to the one-China policy. Over the past 25 years, no matter how the international situation changes, the South African Government and people have always adhered to the political commitment of the one-China policy, laying a solid political foundation for the comprehensive and rapid development of bilateral relations.

Especially under the active drive of platforms such as the BRICS mechanism and the joint efforts of both sides, South-China relations have achieved leapfrog development from partnership, strategic partnership to comprehensive strategic partnership, showing three characteristics of strategic, all-round and multi-level cooperation, with the four advantages of political mutual trust, mutual economic and trade benefit, people-to-people friendship and international cooperation, and supported by four major cooperation mechanisms and platforms of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, BRICS cooperation, the "Belt and Road" initiative and South-South cooperation, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples.

On October 2022, 10, the "China Tianshui-Cape Town, South Africa" international train was successfully shipped. This is the first special train for agricultural products from China to Africa from Gansu. Photo by Li Zhijie

China News Agency: Under the influence of the BRICS mechanism, what is the effect and influence of the development of China-South Africa relations?

Zhang Xiaomei: After 25 years of continuous development and the promotion of platforms such as the BRICS mechanism, the momentum of development of South China-China relations has always been good: first, political and strategic mutual trust has been significantly enhanced; Second, China has become South Africa's largest trading partner and a major source of investment and tourists, and the most reliable partner for South Africa to achieve socio-economic transformation and development; Third, people-to-people exchanges are at the forefront; Fourth, closely coordinate in international and regional affairs and firmly safeguard the common interests of the two countries and developing countries.

On July 2023, 7, the South African Elvis Dance Art Troupe, which participated in the 23th China Xinjiang International Folk Dance Festival, arrived in Urumqi by plane, and the organizers welcomed guests from afar with Xinjiang songs and dances. Photo by Liu Xin

The two sides have always adhered to the strategic and long-term perspective of reviewing and developing bilateral relations, and have always understood and supported each other in the process of exploring a development path suited to their national conditions.

China News Agency: What is the greatest significance of China-South Africa exchanges and cooperation under the BRICS mechanism?

Zhang Xiaomei: The rapid development of South-China relations has accumulated a lot of valuable experience. First, adhere to equality and mutual trust as the guide, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, consult amicably in case of incidents, and never impose their own will on each other or interfere in each other's internal affairs; Second, we have always adhered to the purpose of mutual benefit and win-win results, and are committed to promoting inclusive, win-win and sustainable development of the two countries; The third is to always adhere to the people-centered, in order to benefit the people of the two countries, and never at the expense of each other's interests; Fourth, we should always adhere to the principle of fairness and justice, work together to safeguard world peace and promote common development, never arbitrarily break rules, and sacrifice the common interests of the people of the world for our own selfish interests.

As important developing countries and emerging market countries, both important members of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, BRICS, the G20 and the United Nations, South Africa and China have become important political forces in promoting democracy in international relations, economic globalization and trade liberalization, and shoulder special missions in safeguarding world peace, promoting common prosperity, promoting democracy in the international governance system, and safeguarding the common interests of developing countries and emerging economies.

Mandela Square, Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo by Wang Xi

More importantly, the two peoples have deepened their understanding of each other and forged profound friendship. For example, many South Africans are now proud to work for Chinese-funded companies in South Africa. They believe that Chinese are more friendly and sincere and more compatible with African culture. In particular, many South African students who have returned from studying in China will take the initiative to choose to enter Chinese enterprises, because they can talk about Chinese and understand China, which invisibly acts as an important bridge between South and Chinese enterprises and non-governmental exchanges between the two countries.

China News Agency: Under the influence of the BRICS mechanism, what is the future direction of China-South Africa relations?

Zhang Xiaomei: After the end of the new crown epidemic, South Korea-China relations have entered a new stage of rapid development. The South is willing to work closely with China to fully implement the important consensus and achievements reached by the two heads of state.

Specifically, the first is to continue to maintain high-level mutual visits between the two countries, understand and support each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns, and lay a solid political foundation for the development of bilateral relations; The second is to give full play to the exemplary role of the "Belt and Road" initiative, and focus on strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation in key areas such as infrastructure construction, human resource development, and production capacity industries; The third is to continue to promote exchanges and cooperation among research institutions, scholars, think tanks, news media, etc. of the two sides, and provide intellectual support and friendly environment for the development of bilateral relations; The fourth is to work together to address global challenges, firmly safeguard multilateralism and the free trade system, resolutely oppose any form of unilateralism and trade protectionism, and safeguard the common interests of the two countries and developing countries.

China News Agency: How do you respond to the rhetoric that "China is practicing neocolonialism in Africa"?

Zhang Xiaomei: There is an old proverb that says, "Adversity sees true love." In the last century, China supported African countries such as South Africa, Zambia and Tanzania in ending apartheid and realizing national independence, and the people of South Africa and Africa are full of gratitude. The most widely known of these is the Chinese-assisted construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, which is remembered not only by the people of Tanzania and Zambia, but also by the whole of Africa. As a result, China has also proved to Africa that the two sides are 100 percent brothers and comrades-in-arms.

Qiu Ma, a 67-year-old employee of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, displays his calligraphy work "Long Live Tan-China Friendship". Photo by Jiang Shan

As African leaders such as South African President Ramaphosa have said, China did not colonize Africa. Africa-China relations are a relationship of equality, friendship, mutual benefit and win-win results between brothers. Africa-China pragmatic cooperation has improved the infrastructure and people's lives of African countries. (End)

Respondent Profile:

Zhang Xiaomei. Photo by Wang Xi

Zhang Xiaomei is a well-known South African politician, social activist and member of parliament. In recent years, it has been committed to building a friendship platform and bridge between China and Africa.