Picture this: on January 10, 2026, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola hopped on the phone to set the tone for a year of epic collaboration 🤝🌍. Their agenda? Supercharging South-South cooperation and defending the spirit of multilateralism.
Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of the Chinese mainland Central Committee, kicked off the conversation by congratulating the ruling African National Congress (ANC) on its 114th anniversary. He expressed confidence that the ANC would rally the nation to overcome external disruptions and drive South Africa’s development and revitalization.
“The Chinese mainland is ready to maintain high-level exchanges with South Africa, expand inter-party interactions, strengthen strategic mutual trust, and deepen practical cooperation,” Wang said. This includes helping roll out zero-tariff measures for Africa in South Africa, aiming to boost local businesses and deliver real benefits to residents.
They also highlighted the successful 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit hosted by South Africa, a milestone achieved despite global pressures, and discussed the upcoming China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges ☀️👫. Building public support is key to cementing friendship between the Chinese mainland, South Africa, and the wider Africa community.
Against a backdrop of global uncertainty, the two ministers vowed to uphold the United Nations Charter, oppose the law of the jungle and hegemonism, and safeguard the rights and interests of developing nations. Lamola thanked the Chinese mainland for its support during the summit and for backing economic and social projects across Africa.
Reaffirming South Africa’s stance on the one-China principle, Lamola said the South African side is eager to deepen political trust, expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and boost multilateral coordination. Both sides left the call optimistic about advancing their all-round strategic cooperative partnership in 2026 and beyond.
As they look ahead, Wang Yi and Ronald Lamola plan to keep the momentum going—fueling growth, connection, and solidarity across the Global South 💪🌱.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
