South Africa’s Ramaphosa talks foreign policy ahead of BRICS summit
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the South African nation on Sunday evening, speaking about foreign policy ahead of hosting the leaders of China, India, and Brazil during the BRICS summit, which begins on Tuesday.
“This BRICS Summit and the state visit by President Xi Jinping, as well as the many bilateral engagements we will have with President Lula Da Silva of Brazil, Prime Minister Modi of India and many other heads of state on the sidelines of the summit, have a bearing on our relationships with other countries and South Africa’s place in the world,” said Ramaphosa.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend because he is subject to a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in connection with the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The emphasis on African trade and development, particularly with China, is central to the summit.
BRICS nations make up a quarter of the global economy, and “they account for a fifth of global trade and are home to more than 40 percent of the world’s population,” Ramaphosa said. The New Development Bank established by BRICS in 2015 has funded roads, transport, energy, and other infrastructure projects in South Africa.
“To further advance the African development agenda, more than 30 Heads of State and Government from across Africa will be attending the summit,” Ramaphosa said. “We want to build a partnership between BRICS and Africa so that our continent can unlock opportunities for increased trade, investment and infrastructure development.”
There are 20 nations that have formally applied to join BRICS, and South Africa supports expansion, he said.
“There are great opportunities for other BRICS countries to participate in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by locating production and services in various countries on the African continent, including our own, by partnering with local companies and entrepreneurs,” he said.
Image: South African Presidency file
Laureen Fagan
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
Laureen is a freelance journalist creating high-quality, informed content on international affairs, politics and technology. She has worked both in and out of newsrooms since 2000. She is a former paramedic with significant experience in community resilience and nonprofit community development initiatives, and maintains "a passion for action" on sustainability and climate change. She also is trained in conflict resolution and diversity, and has special interests in science and medical reporting, and culture and religion issues. Laureen received her MSJ from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism in the United States, and completed additional graduate study in theology at University of Notre Dame. Follow Laureen on Mastodon at @laureen@m.ai6yr.org
