Presidential Spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, will today, 11 September  2024 host a media briefing to update the public on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s programme and address topical issues of interest.

Members of the media are invited as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
Time: 14h00
Venue: Imbizo Centre, Cape Town
 
RSVP: Members of the media wishing to attend the media briefing in person are requested to submit their details to makungu@presidency.gov.za

Media following remotely can text their questions to 083 376 9468. The media briefing will be streamed live and the link will be shared prior. 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday, 13 September 2024 sign the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill into law, which aims to strengthen governance within South Africa's education sector.

The President will publicly sign the Bill during a ceremony to be held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

The BELA Bill amends sections of the South African Schools Act of 1996 (SASA) and the Employment of Educators Act, 1998 (EEA) to account for developments in the education landscape since the enactment of the original legislation.

The amendments are a response to court judgments that protect and give effect to the Bill of Rights.

The Signing Ceremony will take place as follows:

Date: Friday, 13 September 2024
Time: 10h30 (media to arrive at 09h30)
Venue: The Union Buildings, Pretoria

Members of the media wishing to cover the ceremony should send their details to Hlobisile Nkosi on hlobisile@presidency.gov.za / 079 988 9954 and Makungu Mbetse on makungu@presidency.gov.za / 079 788 3077 by Thursday, 12 September 2024 at 14h00. No late submissions will be accepted.

Members of the media are also requested to present valid ID documents and press cards on arrival at the entrance. 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

South Africa will be filing its memorial to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) next month ( October 2024). South Africa intends to provide facts and evidence to prove that Israel is committing the crime of genocide in Palestine. 

This case will continue until the court makes a finding. While the case is in progress, we hope that Israel will abide by the court’s provisional orders issued to date.

The case represents a growing  global effort towards ensuring peace in the Middle-East. Several countries, namely, Nicaragua, Palestine, Turkey, Spain, Mexico, Libya and Colombia have all joined the South African case against Israel. 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa is deeply saddened by the passing of acclaimed poet, writer and political and cultural activist Mr James Matthews at the age of 95.

Mr Matthews was an Esteemed Member of the National Order of Ikamanga, who received this honour in 2004 for his excellent achievements in literature, contributing to journalism and his inspirational commitment to the struggle for a non-racial South Africa.

President Ramaphosa offers his condolences to the Matthews family whose loss is shared by communities across South Africa and associates globally of the poet, writer and patron of the Congress of South African Writers who exercised his creative endowment and political voice for close on 80 years of the 95 years of his life.

Born into a working-class District Six family, a teenage James Matthews worked as a messenger at a Cape Town newspaper where, in his own words, his introduction to a library was “one of wonderment”.

This revelation started him on a career and life’s mission of journalism, poetry, short stories, essays and tireless denunciation of the apartheid system, the response to which included periods of detention and denial of a passport for more than a decade.

President Ramaphosa said: “James Matthews’s voice will ring in our consciousness following his departure and we will remain captivated and inspired by the rage and elegance with he articulated the stark struggles of the oppressed.

“We will be comforted by the many works he has left for us to revisit and by our memories of his appearances at rallies, ghoembas, the frontlines of street protest and intimate circles of kindred creatives where, beret askew on his head, he would feed the souls and fighting spirit of those around him.

“May he now rest in peace.”

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Saturday, 07 September 2024, join the Nazareth Baptist Church known as Bethlehema LamaNazaretha akwa Shembe at the Holy Temple of Ntabazwe in Platenberg near Harrismith in the Free State Province.

The Deputy President will be a Special Guest of His Holiness Inkosi Unyazi LweZulu, the Leader of the Church. Deputy President Mashatile is tasked by the President to lead social cohesion and nation-building initiatives in the country, including fostering social compacts with Faith-based communities, amongst others.

Details of the visit are as follows:
Date: Saturday, 07 September 2024
Time: 08h30 (media to arrive 08h00)
Venue: Ntabazwe/Bethlehem Holy Temple, Platenberg, Harrismith (along N3 Highway), Free State Province.  

Media wishing to cover the visit is advised of the strict dress code applied by the church: Headdresses and covering of shoulders for females; no pants/trousers for females; covering of shoulders for males, and strictly no shoes for everyone at the holy mountain.

Members of the media wishing to cover the visit requested to submit their full details to Mr Bongani Majola on 082 339 1993. 

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Task Team established to address water challenges in various areas in the country, will on Friday, 06 September 2024, visit the Limpopo Province to assess progress achieved on various intervention projects undertaken to improve water services in Greater Giyani Local Municipality.

The Task Team, led by Deputy President Mashatile, is an institutional coordinating mechanism, which brings together key role players within Government to provide leadership and technical assistance towards the resolution of challenges in the provision of water services in the country.

The two-day oversight visit is aimed at ensuring that there is access to functional basic water supply infrastructure for the surrounding communities of Giyani, as well as to deal with the long standing challenges of water backlog in the area.

In this regard, the Deputy President, supported by the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms Pemmy Majodina, will commence the visit by conducting a walkabout at the Nandoni Dam Pump Station and proceed to several other project sites, including a Canal at Xikukwana, Giyani Water Treatment Works, and a reticulation project at Nwakhuwani.

The Deputy President will be accompanied by the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms Pemmy Majodina; Deputy Ministers, Mr David Mahlobo and Mr Isaac Seitlholo; Acting Premier of the Limpopo Province, Mr Basikopo Makamu; Members of the Limpopo Provincial Executive Council; District and Local Mayors; as well as Traditional leadership representatives.

Members of the media are invited as follows:

DAY 1: FRIDAY, 06 SEPTEMBER 2024

Photo Opportunity on arrival of the Deputy President and Delegation

Time: 09h30 (media to arrive at 09h00)
Venue: Nandoni Dam Pump Station

Media in attendance

10h00 - Site inspections visit to Nandoni Dam Pump Station, Thohoyandou

10h40 - Showcasing of Middle Letaba Canal - Xikukwana Village

11h30 - Site visit to Giyani Water Treatment Works - Giyani Water Treatment Work (Nsami)

13h00 - Site visit to Giyani Water Pipelines and Reticulation - Nwakhuwani

For more information and accreditation please contact:

The Presidency - Mr Sam Bopape on 082 318 5251
Water and Sanitation - Dr Mandla Mathebula on 083 235 8675  or Mr Raletjena on 082 928 4148

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to Deputy President Mashatile, on 066 195 8840.

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will this afternoon, Thursday, 05 September 2024, appraise Members of Parliament in the National Assembly on matters related to his Delegated Responsibilities.

The questions that have been asked to the Deputy President include the measures in which South Africa will, through the African Union, undertake to bring about peace and stability in Sudan. This is in relation to the Deputy President’s responsibility of leading peace missions on the African continent.

In ongoing efforts to capacitate Communal Property Associations (CPAs) and addressing the identified challenges, the Deputy President will assure the Members that Government has been engaging at different levels with various role-players in finding common ground on implementing corrective measures to support the strengthening of these entities.

In addition, as Chairperson of the Water Task Team, the Deputy President will brief the Members on the progress made regarding the ongoing interventions to address the critical issues of water infrastructure decay, as well as water challenges in prioritised areas. 

In light of the incidences of exchange of fire and fatal shooting between members of the South African Police Service and alleged criminals, the Deputy President will provide an update to the Members on measures taken to prevent further loss of life.

The Deputy President will further reassure the Members of the significant steps taken by Government in eradicating construction mafias. 

Details of the sitting are as follows:

Date: Thursday, 05 September 2024
Time: 14h00
Venue: Good Hope Chambers

Livestreaming: on DSTV Parliamentary Channel 408

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840.

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Your Excellency, Mr Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China,
Your Excellency, Mr Mohamed Ghazouani, Chairperson of the African Union and President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania,
Your Excellency, Mr Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of the Republic of Senegal and co-chair of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation,
Your Excellency, Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission,
Your Excellency, Mr Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, 
Your Excellencies Heads of State and Government,
Distinguished delegates, 

I convey the warmest greetings of the government and people of South Africa to our hosts, the government and people of China.

We extend our deep gratitude to President Xi Jinping for the wonderful manner in which we have been received here in Beijing and for the warm hospitality that has been extended to us.

I thank President Xi and President Diomaye Faye, the co-chairs of FOCAC, for convening this Summit.

We meet today when the world is experiencing many challenges. 

War and conflict continue to cause great human suffering and instability in a number of places across the world.

Climate change is causing widespread devastation.

The world is falling behind in its efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The global contestation for critical minerals is fuelling geopolitical rivalry. 

These challenges affect all nations, but are often most severely felt in Africa.

Yet, amid these challenges, there is hope and opportunity.

Twenty-five years ago, President Nelson Mandela delivered a lecture at Peking University, in which he said: 

“Whenever the need or opportunity arises the peoples of the world reach out to one another in the name of a common humanity.”

This common humanity is what brings African countries and China together under the banner of FOCAC.

We are driven by a desire to achieve shared prosperity while recognising our individual developmental aspirations.

If we are to realise a sustainable future for Africa and China – and indeed the entire world – we must acknowledge the reality of the interdependence among our community of nations. 

If we are to build a future that is people-centred, development-orientated and inclusive, we need to work in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration.

China has a long history of friendship and solidarity with the people of Africa. 

Since this relationship was institutionalised through FOCAC in 2000, ties between China and Africa have continued to grow and deepen.

We welcome the proposal by President Xi Jinping to elevate China’s bilateral relations with African countries having diplomatic ties with China to the level of strategic relations. 

This fourth FOCAC Summit reflects the cooperative, comprehensive and intentional nature of our cooperation. 

This Summit reflects our shared desire for modernisation, development and progress on the African continent.

We believe that this shared desire is reflected in the ten partnership actions on modernisation to be taken by China and Africa, as announced by President Xi.

Through the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, the economies of Africa are being drawn closer together. 

We are pursuing projects that reach across national borders. 

We believe that FOCAC can play an important role as Africa works to build an integrated network of linkages between countries, within regions and across the continent.

We believe that FOCAC is a valuable forum to support the implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

In the name of our common humanity, we must work together to achieve the Africa we want. And we must work together to achieve the world we want. 

I thank you.
 

Ambassador Wu Peng of the Peoples Republic of China,
Ambassador Siyabonge Cwele of the Republic of South Africa,
Business Leaders from China and South Africa,
Distinguished Guests, 
Ladies and Gentleman, 

It gives me great pleasure to address you today at this South Africa-China Business Forum.

This meeting is taking place on the margins of a State Visit and the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. 

This Business Forum is an opportunity for engagements that will improve the trade and investment relationship between our two countries. 

South Africa and China have vibrant, diverse and growing economies, with a wealth of opportunities for businesses wishing to expand into new markets. 

China is currently South Africa’s largest trading partner.

Bilateral trade between China and South Africa has increased by a third since 2019. 

South Africa exports mainly minerals and agricultural products to China, and imports largely manufactured products from China. 

We are seeking to shift the structure of our trade profile and deepen our investment relationship.

South Africa has one of the most advanced and diversified economies on the African continent. It has a vibrant business environment and a strong regulatory framework. It has a diverse, competitive and well-regulated financial sector.

We are a country with enormous potential for growth and development.

We are advantageously placed for companies looking to expand into the rest of the African continent.

Many Chinese companies have invested in South Africa, and many others have shown a keen interest to invest. 

There have been distinct moves into sectors such as manufacturing, banking, textiles, mining and agriculture. 

Among the more significant investments was the investment by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, which bought a 20 percent stake in Standard Bank, one of the continent’s largest banks. 

Chinese electronics manufacturer Hisense entered the South African market in 1997. It is now exporting to other African countries and the United Kingdom from its Atlantis plant in South Africa.

Other Chinese flagship companies, such as ZTE and Huawei Technologies, are also expanding their presence in South Africa.

Since the start of our investment drive in 2018, Chinese companies have made investment pledges to the value of over R18 billion in the manufacturing, resources, finance and agro-processing sectors. This is the equivalent of one billion US dollars.

We express our appreciation for these commitments and for China’s continued support to our investment drive.

In the last six weeks, a number of Chinese companies have increased investments to support the expansion of their operations. 

These investment commitments are testament to the resilience of the South African economy and the many opportunities for foreign and domestic investors. 

It is up to us to seize these opportunities and take the economic relationship between our two countries to the next level.

There are several areas where we can strengthen collaboration.

South Africa has investment opportunities in the electric vehicle sector, renewable energy, green hydrogen and energy storage.

It has further opportunities in infrastructure, manufacturing, mining, beneficiation of critical minerals, and the digital economy.

We have seen China’s transformation as a major economic powerhouse over the last few decades. 

Yesterday we visited Shenzhen and marvelled at the transformation of the city from a fishing village to a high-tech knowledge economy and a leader in the digital supply chain. 

We seek to achieve a similar transformation in our economy.

Chinese companies will find there are innumerable business opportunities to manufacture products in South Africa using our excellent industrial experience and capabilities.

We plan to move from being a large importer of manufactured products to being a major exporter. 

We have seen this happen in our automotive industry.

We have ambitious plans to modernise our infrastructure by investing in the expansion of ports, rail and road networks. 

We are on a path to revolutionise our energy sector in pursuit of low-carbon, climate resilient development.

We are actively seeking investment in the energy sector with a particular focus on renewables and green hydrogen.

China has a proven track record in developing innovative renewable energy solutions. 

Together, we can create sustainable and environmentally-friendly energy solutions that benefit both our countries.

By working together, we can create value chains that are mutually beneficial, leading to job creation and economic growth.

There is also vast untapped potential in technology.

South Africa and China can collaborate to promote innovation, technology transfer and skills development. 

By leveraging our respective strengths and exploring new avenues of collaboration, we can create mutually beneficial partnerships.

Our focus must now be on building stronger business relationships, promoting cultural exchanges and tourism, and creating a favourable business environment.

The value of such cooperation extends beyond our two countries.

The growth of the South African economy will support the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which opens access to a market of over 1.3 billion people. 

African economic integration is fast becoming a reality.

This creates enormous opportunities to expand production on the continent and to stimulate much greater economic activity.

In conclusion, let me thank you for your participation in this business forum. 

Let us work together to seize this opportunity and continue to build a more prosperous future for our respective countries.

I thank you.
 

At the invitation of H.E President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa paid a State Visit to China on 2 September 2024. During the State Visit, the two heads of state held talks in a cordial and friendly atmosphere and had an in-depth exchange of views on further developing China-South Africa and China-Africa relations, including regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The two sides reaffirmed that they cherish the special and ever-growing friendship between the two countries and recommitted to working together towards building a high-quality China-South Africa community with a shared future. To carry forward the friendship, consolidate mutual trust, expand cooperation and enhance coordination, the two Heads of State agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship to an all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era, underpinned by strong political ties and focused on a prosperous future with balanced trade, and accelerated transformative economic growth. The Heads of State reached a series of important common understandings:

I. Working towards a high-quality China-South Africa community with a shared future

1. The two sides spoke highly of the leapfrog development of the China-South Africa relationship over the past 26 years since its establishment and commended the growth in many areas of cooperation in the golden era of the bilateral ties heralded by the fourth state visit of President Xi Jinping to South Africa in August 2023. The bilateral relationship boasts growing global significance and strategic influence, setting a fine example of developing countries from the Global South working together in solidarity, for purposes of common development.

2. China congratulated President Ramaphosa on his reelection as President of the Republic of South Africa, and believes that under his leadership, the South African Government of National Unity will achieve success in building a united, just, equal and prosperous country as espoused in the National Development Plan, including maintaining an independent and non-aligned foreign policy based on the principle of progressive internationalism. South Africa congratulated the People’s Republic of China on the 75th anniversary of its founding, acknowledged the development achievements made by the Chinese people of all ethnic groups under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and wished China success in realizing its Second Centenary Goal of building itself into a great modern socialist country in all respects.

3. The two sides agreed to leverage the strategic guiding role of Head-of-State diplomacy based on a common understanding between the two Presidents to foster mutually beneficial cooperation by leveraging further the role of structured bilateral mechanisms held at various levels. The two sides encouraged the deepening of exchanges between government departments, and legislative institutions and agreed to accommodate subnational interactions at multiple levels and across different fields, including intensifying experience sharing and mutual learning on state governance.

4. China firmly supports national unity and the path of economic and social development that South Africa has chosen, and respects efforts by the South African government to safeguard its national interests to improve the lives of all South Africans. The South African government reaffirmed its commitment to the One-China Policy, recognized that there is but one China in the world, the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. South Africa supports efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification. 

5. The two sides agreed on the fundamental need to guarantee and protect universal human rights for all, everywhere, including the right to development, as a common cause for all humanity and expressed readiness to conduct exchanges and cooperation on human rights based on mutual respect, equality and rejection of politicization, polarisation, selective, and double standards concerning all human rights matters. The two sides further agree to oppose all forms of discrimination and to promote and protect the rights of vulnerable persons, particularly women, children and persons with disabilities and ensure their equitable access to resources.

II. Synergising Belt and Road cooperation with South Africa’s National Development Plan

6. The two sides agreed to work on strengthening cooperation and synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan and to continue implementing the 10 Years Strategic Programme of Cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa (2020-2029), as a blueprint towards more substantive outcomes on priority political, socio-economic issues between the two sides.

7. The two sides agreed to fully leverage the role of such mechanisms as the China-South Africa Joint Working Group (JWG) and the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETC) to further expand economic and trade ties by improving the current trade structure, increasing market access and the export of value-added goods from South Africa. 

8. The two sides encouraged the respective business communities to enhance new two-way investments and increase their manufacturing bases within the proximity of the relevant source of raw materials to enable the transfer of skills technology and job creation.

9. The two sides committed to providing a stable, fair and enabling business environment for companies from both sides and to ensure the safety and legitimate rights and interests of the relevant personnel, projects and institutions. The two sides encouraged mutual visits by economic and trade delegations, including co-hosting the New Energy Investment Conferences by chambers or associations of commerce from both sides, and holding the Jobs Fair of Chinese-Invested Enterprises in South Africa to boost local employment and improve people’s lives.

10. The two sides agreed that promoting modernisation is the joint goal in building a high-level South Africa-China community with a shared future. The two sides will deepen cooperation in traditional fields such as agriculture, health, medical sciences and infrastructure development, however, they will further seize opportunities presented by the new scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, focusing on key areas such as the digital economy, new energies and artificial intelligence, boost cooperation on quality productive forces, and further expand mutually beneficial cooperation in renewable energy, energy storage and power transmission and distribution. 

11. China is committed to sharing with South Africa experience in poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, in building poverty alleviation model villages, and offering support for South Africa’s coordinated urban and rural development. The two sides further agreed to continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the areas of culture, women, health, youth, education, sport, media, tourism, and other people-to-people cooperation fields.

III. Working together to build an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization

12. South Africa welcomed China’s role as a leader on the international stage and acknowledged that China's Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI) and Global Civilization Initiative (GCI)  are aimed at improving global peace and security, promoting socio-economic development, and contributing to the reform of global governance. South Africa is confident that China will promote these initiatives, noting the primacy of the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) and in line with the principles and programs of the UN and the AU, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, and the principle of subsidiarity. South Africa looks forward to close consultation and cooperation with China on both bilateral and global issues of mutual interest and encourages China to cooperate closely with other major countries in dealing with global challenges such as climate change, conflict prevention and resolution, fair trade, and poverty alleviation. The two sides welcome and support each other in playing an increased role in global affairs, and will work together to uphold fairness and justice, including making global governance more just and equitable.

13. The two sides applauded the recent 70th Anniversary of China’s “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence”, as these were espoused in the buildup to the Asia-Africa Summit of 1955 in Bandung and were later adopted as the main goals and objectives of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation on international affairs and multilateral institutions, jointly uphold the UN-centred global system, an equitable international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including to uphold the rights and interests of developing countries jointly and respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

14. The two sides supported a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries in the Council’s memberships so that it can adequately respond to prevailing global challenges and support the legitimate aspirations of emerging and developing countries to play a greater role in international affairs, in particular in the United Nations, including its Security Council.

15. The two sides agreed to make active efforts to restore development as the centerpiece on the agenda of international cooperation, and to work for the full realisation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China applauded South Africa for contributing to international synergy for common development and congratulated the country on successfully hosting the 15th BRICS Summit in 2023, including its efforts as the chair in achieving a historic BRICS expansion. Both sides agree to continue strengthening coordination and collaboration under the BRICS mechanism and work for more practical outcomes of cooperation of an expanded BRICS.

16. China expresses its full support for South Africa’s G20 presidency in 2025 and extended felicitations to the African Union on becoming a full member. China called on the international community to attach greater importance to Africa-related priorities in G20 affairs. China expressed its readiness to work with South Africa to increase the influence and voice of emerging markets and developing countries, to focus on major issues such as coordination and macro-economic policies, global poverty reduction, development and reform of international economic and financial institutions, as well as to promote a more balanced and stable global economic and financial architecture.

17. Both sides undertook to continue to uphold the core values and basic principles of the World Trade Organization, oppose decoupling and disruption of supply chains, resist unilateralism and protectionism, call for reform of the international financial system, and improve development financing for African countries to achieve common prosperity.

18. The two sides commended each other’s respective roles in terms of resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict and welcomed the Common Understandings Between China and Brazil on the “Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis”, as well as the Peace Mission by the African Union. The two sides agreed that inclusive dialogue and peaceful negotiations are the only viable political ways to find a lasting solution to the crisis. The two sides call on relevant parties to observe the three principles of no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no provocation by any party.

19. The two sides are deeply concerned about the serious humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip caused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its spillover effects. Both called for the earnest implementation of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 2728 and an immediate ceasefire and end to all fighting, and support resuming a process of political settlement of the Palestinian question. China commended the positive role that South Africa has played in activating the role of the international community in the conflict in Gaza and is willing to work together toward a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement at an early date. South Africa expressed its appreciation to China for successfully inviting various Palestinian factions to hold a reconciliation dialogue in China and for signing the Beijing Declaration.

IV. Working to launch a new era of building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future

20. The two sides commended the successful China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue held in South Africa in August 2023 and encouraged the Beijing FOCAC Summit’s full commitment to implementing the Initiative on Supporting Africa’s Industrialization, the Plan for China Supporting Africa’s Agricultural Modernization, and the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development put forth by President Xi Jinping.

21. China commended President Ramaphosa for scheduling to co-host the high level session on “industrialization, agricultural modernization and green development - the path to modernization”. 

22. The two sides agreed to further align the outcomes of the Summit with the African Union Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as part of opening a new chapter in China-Africa relations. Both Presidents look forward to a fruitful conference that would promote the common interests of both China and Africa.

23. The two sides applauded the facilitating role that the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC) has played in promoting China-Africa high-quality cooperation during the last 24 years since its establishment. The two Presidents wished the 2024 Beijing Summit of FOCAC all success and expressed the hope that it would open a new chapter of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation.

24. The two sides call on the international community to support the efforts by African countries in terms of the full implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and allow Africa the space to realise the benefits of its integration agenda. The two sides further call on the international community to support efforts by African regional organizations such as the African Union to independently solve African regional problems (i.e. African solutions to African problems) and agree to enhance coordination on hotspot issues in Africa and safeguard peace and security of Africa.

25. As part of the State Visit, the two Presidents jointly witnessed the signing of several bilateral cooperation instruments in the following areas：Cooperation of the Application of Beidou Navigation System; Sustainable Housing and Human Settlements Development; Deepening Bilateral Trade Cooperation; Cultural Heritage; Cooperation in Prevention an Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease; Inspection Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements for Dairy Products Exported from the Republic of South Africa to the People’s Republic of China, and the Protocol on Greasy Wool and cooperation in scientific field. 

26. The two sides agreed that President Ramaphosa’s visit to China was successful and carried great significance in terms of promoting China-South Africa relations and building a high-level China-Africa community, with a shared future. President Ramaphosa expressed his heartfelt appreciation to President Xi Jinping and the Chinese Government and People for their warm hospitality during the State Visit to China.