Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi, visiting South Africa for the G20 meeting of foreign affairs ministers, has praised and expressed gratitude for the hospitality of his hosts, the SA government.
Of greater significance, Wang acknowledged the historic nature of hosting the G20 summit for the first time on African soil, echoing the sentiment expressed earlier by his host, President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his keynote address to the geopolitical gathering.
“This year represents an Africa moment at the G20,” Wang said. “After welcoming the African Union as a full member, the G20 is going to have a summit on the African continent for the first time.”
He called on the international community to listen more attentively to Africa’s standpoint on global affairs, saying: “It is necessary for us to listen to what Africa has to say, take Africa’s concerns seriously, support Africa’s actions, and make efforts for peace and development in Africa so as to leave a distinct African mark on the Johannesburg summit.”
He added: “China firmly supports the African people in independently solving African problems. African people have the wisdom, capability, and right to take good care of their own affairs, and the AU’s goal of silencing the guns in Africa will be achieved.”
Invoking the wisdom of democratic South Africa’s founding father, Wang quoted Nelson Mandela: “It is so easy to break down and destroy. The heroes are those who make peace and build.”
“China,” he elaborated, “will work with all parties to pour more consensus for peace – bolster the force for peace and build a world of lasting peace and universal security.”
South Africa, the current Chair of the G20 for 2025, hosted this week’s meeting of top global envoys in Johannesburg as part of the build-up to the full summit later this year.
Beyond the G20, China and South Africa are key members of BRICS, and bilateral relations between the two nations are at an all-time high. China has been SA’s biggest trading partner for 15 consecutive years.
During his fourth state visit to the country last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping described the flourishing bilateral ties between Beijing and Pretoria as having entered a “golden era.”
Addressing the Johannesburg meeting before a global audience and media, Wang highlighted that the gathering was taking place amid “turbulence and turmoil” that threatens global security. “Regional conflicts and turmoil break out from time to time, and the global security deficit keeps growing,” he noted.
He reminded the gathering about resolutions adopted at last year’s summit in Brazil, where G20 leaders committed to building a “just world order and sustainable planet.” He emphasized their commitment to “diplomacy and dialogue in peaceful resolution of conflicts, supporting all efforts to address the crisis.”
Wang outlined three key areas for cooperation:
First, acting as guardians of world peace. He emphasized that countries should respect each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and chosen development paths. Disputes should be handled through peaceful dialogue, and interference in other countries’ internal affairs must be rejected. He noted that the five principles of peaceful coexistence, initiated by China and other Global South countries 170 years ago, remain relevant today.
Second, acting as builders of universal security. Wang stressed that humanity shares a common future, and no country should pursue security at others’ expense. He referenced President Xi Jinping’s Global Security Initiative, which advocates for “common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security” characterized by “dialogue rather than confrontation, partnership rather than alliance, and win-win rather than zero-sum” outcomes.
Third, defending multilateralism. Noting the 80th anniversary of both the United Nations and the victory in World War II, Wang emphasized the increasing importance of defending UN authority as global challenges become more complex.
Regarding current conflicts, Wang addressed both the Ukraine crisis and the Gaza conflict. On Ukraine, he noted growing calls for peace talks and China’s commitment to a peaceful settlement based on President Xi’s four-point approach. Regarding Gaza, he emphasized the need for sustained ceasefire implementation and support for the two-state solution, calling the Palestinian question “a historical injustice that has dragged on for over seventy years.”
On Syria, Wang concluded that “the international community should respect the choice of the Syrian people. There should be no room for violent, terrorist forces in Syria.”
