BRICS Summit: SA hopes China could help solve power crisis
President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa is looking to China to help solve the country’s energy crisis.
Ramaphosa officially welcomed his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the Union Buildings on Tuesday.
Xi is on his fourth state visit to South Africa, before the opening of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg this afternoon.
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Ramaphosa says China has already donated emergency power equipment worth R167 million to South Africa, as well as a grant of approximately R500 million as development assistance.
The President said he hopes the visit will also provide an opportunity to narrow the trade deficit between the two countries.
"Our bilateral trade has grown exponentially, from less than R1 billion in 1998 to over R614 billion in 2022. As South Africa, we would like to see the significant trade deficit narrowed, and this visit is an opportunity for us to look at ways to do so.
"Development cooperation between China and South Africa is strong. As South Africa, we are inspired by China’s common prosperity strategy, and are encouraged that this includes improving the welfare and well-being of all countries of the Global South."
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