South Africa gets behind China’s defence of multilateral trade
- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says the two countries should work together to oppose protectionism
South Africa has added its weight to China’s support for the multilateral trade system, as the commodities-reliant economy is buffeted by the tariff war between Beijing and Washington.
In the coastal city of Durban on Friday, Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s minister of international relations and cooperation, told Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi that South Africa would defend multilateral trade rules centred on the World Trade Organisation.
“South Africa is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China in multilateral affairs,” she told Wang, who is also China’s foreign minister.
Wang echoed the sentiment, saying China and South Africa should work together to “safeguard multilateralism … oppose unilateralism and protectionism”.
The two countries should “jointly safeguard the common interests of developing countries and strengthen strategic communication and cooperation in international and regional affairs”, he said.
Wang’s trip is part of a broader diplomatic offensive that last month saw a visit to Kenya, Nigeria and Sierra Leone by Yang Jiechi, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special representative.