Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability in an Uncertain World

Li Zhigang

Recently, China's Two Sessions 2025, namely the Third Session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and the Third Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), were successfully concluded in Beijing.

A press conference was held during which members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi answered questions from Chinese and foreign media about China's foreign policy and external relations. He expounded China's stance on the international situation, the Global South and China-Africa cooperation, which attracted significant international attention.

In a world of increasing turmoil and uncertainty, stability has become a rare global asset. Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized at the press conference that China will stand firm on the right side of history and the side of human progress, and will provide certainty to this uncertain world.

Power politics will win no support, and a shared future is the only choice we have

Behind power, “there is but bloodshed, killing and death: a world of terror where the weak are prey of the strong.” China resolutely opposes power politics and hegemony. We firmly believe that a big country should honour its international obligations and fulfil its due responsibilities; It should not put selfish interests before principles, or wield its power to bully the weak.

With a keen understanding of the trend of history, President Xi Jinping has proposed building a community with a shared future for mankind and called on all countries to transcend disagreements and differences and develop together the global village as our common home. We are pleased to see that more and more countries have joined the cause of building a community with a shared future, South Africa included.

Over 100 countries support China's Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, and more than three-quarters of countries across the world have joined the family of Belt and Road cooperation. History will prove that a real winner keeps in mind the interests of all and that a community with a shared future for mankind will ensure that the world belongs to every country and that everyone will have a bright future.

China's economic development is in a new phase as it moves steadily forward

In 2024, the Chinese economy registered a five-percent growth, continuing to stand out among the world's major economies. We pulled it off amid a nationwide push for the green transition, amid lacklustre growth worldwide, and unilateral sanctions and suppression from the United States and others. We believe that the Chinese miracle of unprecedented high-speed growth will be followed by even more remarkable high-quality development.

China's development cannot be separated from the world, and China's development injects strong momentum into the world's development and prosperity. In the future, we will work for a better business environment, steadily expand institutional opening up, expand independent opening-up in a well-ordered manner, and continue unilateral opening up to the least developed countries. We will provide enormous market opportunities and broad prospects for our development partners, including South Africa.

Historical justice is indisputable, and China's reunification is what the greater national interests entail

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. This is the history and the reality. The victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression put Taiwan back under China's sovereign jurisdiction. Both the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, issued by major victorious nations of WWII, have confirmed China's sovereignty over Taiwan and formed an important part of the post-WWII international order.

Resolution 2758 was later adopted in 1971 by the U.N. General Assembly with an overwhelming majority. It decides to restore all the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China at the U.N. and expel forthwith the representatives of the Taiwan authorities from the U.N. and all the organizations related to it.

Once and for all, this precluded any possibility of creating “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.” The only reference to the Taiwan region in the U.N. is “Taiwan, Province of China.” Individual countries playing with words cannot change the fact that Taiwan has never been and will never be a country. China appreciates the South African Government's firm adherence to the one-China policy and is ready to continue to work with South Africa to advance our all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era based on the one-China principle.

The Global South is thriving, and China-Africa cooperation is ever-deepening

Accounting for over 40 per cent of the global GDP and contributing as much as 80 per cent of global growth, the Global South is a key force for maintaining world peace, driving world development, and improving global governance. China and Africa, both members of the global South, are brothers treating each other with sincerity and sharing a common future.

This year marks the beginning of implementing the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit. China stands ready to deliver on the ten partnership actions for China and Africa to jointly advance modernization, including supporting Africa in accelerating its industrialization and agricultural modernization, implementing zero-tariff treatment for 100 per cent tariff lines, fostering new growth drivers like digital, green and AI industries, promoting 1,000 “small and beautiful” livelihood projects, enhancing governance experience sharing, and raising the representation and voice of Africa in international affairs.

This year, the G20 summit will be held on the African continent for the first time. China firmly supports South Africa in fulfilling its G20 presidency and making meaningful African contributions to global governance.

Li Zhigang is the Chargé d'affaires of the Embassy of China in South Africa.