CHINA-Ramaphosa, Xi Hold Talks Ahead Of BRICS

(MNI) London - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held talks in Pretoria as part of Xi's state visit ahead of the BRICS summit getting underway in Johannesburg later today. Wires report Xi as stating that "China is committed to deepening friendly and cooperative relations with South Africa no matter how the world changes." Xi: "We will unswervingly promote continuous development of Sino-South Africa relations."

• Xi: "Had productive meeting with President Ramaphosa, exchanged views on issues of common concern and reached important consensus." Xi: "China will continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in South Africa, to cooperate in new energy and technology."
• Xi: "We should strengthen strategic cooperation, practice true multilateralism and promote representation of countries in the Global South." Xi: "We have always believed that China and South Africa are big developing countries with important influence."
• Ramaphosa's opening remarks can be found here. Ramaphosa: "South Africa and China have similar views on the expansion of BRICS membership and we look forward to the discussions we will have on this matter [...].
  South Africa and China have expressed similar positions in support of the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict through diplomacy, inclusive political dialogue and negotiations. [...] At a time when the world faces many geopolitical, social, economic, environmental and other challenges, it is up to us to deepen our cooperation and turn challenge into opportunity as we build a shared future."