South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, emphasized the strong ties between South Africa and China ahead of the BRICS summit, which began Tuesday in Russia.
Lamola characterized the relationship as one built on mutual trust and highlighted South Africa’s openness to increased investment and collaboration.
“It is a relationship of trust that is mutually beneficial. With significant Chinese investment in our country, we are focused on the benefits for South Africa, including local manufacturing and value addition, which we believe can drive our economy,” Lamola said.
The BRICS summit, featuring Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, will run until October 24. This marks the first summit since the alliance expanded to include Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, and Iran.
The BRICS nations, often seen as a counterbalance to Western dominance, collectively account for approximately 28 percent of the global economy.
