2023-08-18 06:49:41
Africa is becoming a major diplomatic issue, where the West, Russia and China are vying for influence, exacerbated by tensions in Ukraine.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to South Africa next week where he will conduct a state visit and will participate in the Brics summit (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), announced the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.
“At the invitation of the President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, President Xi Jinping will attend the 15th BRICS summit to be held in Johannesburg and make a state visit to South Africa from August 21 to 24,” Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for the ministry, said in a statement posted online.
The Chinese leader previously visited South Africa in 2018 to strengthen his country’s diplomatic and economic ties with the continent. It will be the second visit of Xi abroad this year, following Russia in March.
Several African countries have already expressed their desire to join the bloc, including Algeria, Egypt and Ethiopia.
Africa, a new diplomatic challenge
The leaders of China, Brazil, India and South Africa, in addition to the head of Russian diplomacy, must meet from August 22 to 24 for discussions on the theme “Brics and Africa”, announced the South African Minister of Foreign Affairs at the beginning of the month.
Africa is a new diplomatic challenge for the West, Russia and China are vying for influence amid divisions fueled by the conflict in Ukraine.
After a long ambivalence on whether or not to come to the Brics summit, the Russian president Vladimir Poutineunder an international arrest warrant, finally decided last month to do not participate.
“China is ready to work with Algeria to strengthen strategic communications, deepen exchanges and cooperation.”
Expansion of Brics
at theagenda of this year’s Johannesburg summit will feature a possible enlargement of the Brics. Several African countries have already expressed their desire to join the bloc, including Algeria, Egypt and Ethiopia. In July, China hosted Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Beijing, hailing its ties with Africa and calling for closer cooperation.
“China is ready to work with Algeria to strengthen strategic communications, deepen exchanges and cooperation, and ensure the steady and long-term development of the China-Algeria comprehensive strategic partnership,” President Xi told Tebboune when they met at the People’s Palace in Beijing. “China is our most important friend”had declared, for his part, the Algerian president.
In total, 69 countries were invited at the top in South Africa, including all African states.
1692368554
#Jinping #attend #BRICS #summit #South #Africa
