General

Since the first meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in 2006, the cooperation mechanism of BRICS countries has been continuously enriched and matured over a decade. Currently, a "comprehensive, multi-level, and wide-ranging" cooperation system has been formed. Over the past decade, the BRICS cooperation mechanism has effectively promoted the coordinated development of the global economy, promoted the progress of multilateral mechanisms, and brought more attention to developing countries.

In 2023, South Africa assumed the rotating presidency of the BRICS countries. South Africa is the only BRICS member country on the African continent, and China is not only a staunch supporter and participant of the BRICS mechanism, but also the largest economy among the BRICS countries. Under the framework of BRICS countries and South South cooperation, bilateral relations between China and South Africa have always been strong. The current China South Africa relationship has already gone beyond the scope of bilateral relations and become a model for China Africa relations and cooperation among emerging market countries, with important strategic significance and global impact.

Promoting the transformation of the multilateral agenda

The population of the BRICS countries accounts for about 41.8% of the global population. It can be said that the BRICS countries have a market, resources, strength, and potential, and economic and trade cooperation has a broad space. They are a pivotal emerging force in the global economy.

Since the establishment of the BRICS cooperation mechanism, it has practiced true multilateralism and promoted common development. Various cooperation has flourished at the bilateral and multilateral levels. At the 12th BRICS Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting held in 2022, ministers unanimously agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas such as the digital economy, trade, investment, and sustainable development, supply chains, and the multilateral trading system. The meeting also approved a series of outcome documents, demonstrating the BRICS countries' support for the multilateral trading system represented by the WTO through practical actions.

Economic and trade cooperation has reached a higher level. According to customs data, in 2021, the total bilateral trade value between China and the BRICS countries was 490.42 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 39.2%. According to customs data, this is higher than the overall growth rate of China's foreign trade over the same period.

Strengthen health cooperation. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the BRICS countries have provided more than 1 billion doses of vaccines to countries around the world through bilateral, international organizations and the "COVID-19 Vaccine Implementation Plan" in the form of grants and donations. In March 2022, the BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Center was launched. In May of the same year, the BRICS countries agreed to launch the BRICS early warning system for preventing large-scale infectious diseases. At the same time, the BRICS community has promoted digital epidemic prevention and improved telemedicine cooperation, which have become new highlights of BRICS health cooperation.

It is worth noting that with the proposed "BRICS+" cooperation model, BRICS countries have gradually formed an increasingly extensive "circle of friends" around the world, attracting more emerging countries to participate in cooperation. At the 14th BRICS Leaders' Meeting held in June 2022, the leaders of China, Russia, India, Brazil, and South Africa agreed to continue promoting the BRICS expansion process. Since then, countries including Iran, Argentina, Türkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Algeria have also actively expressed their willingness to join, causing global concern. Moreover, Belarus is also considering joining the BRICS countries in the near future. On February 22 this year, Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleynik stated at the ministerial meeting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that "we will actively participate in the preparations for the Russia Africa Forum to be held in July this year, and consider the issue of joining the BRICS countries."

China South Africa cooperation has yielded fruitful results

South Africa officially joined the BRICS countries in December 2010, thereby expanding the "BRICS countries" to "BRICS 5 countries". According to customs data, South Africa is now China's largest trading partner in Africa, with fruitful economic and trade exchanges and close cooperation between the two countries.

According to customs data, as of 2021, China has become South Africa's largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years; China's cumulative total investment in South Africa exceeds 25 billion US dollars; There are more than 200 Chinese funded enterprises in South China, creating over 400000 local jobs. According to customs data, the bilateral trade volume between China and South Africa reached US $56.739 billion in 2022. South Africa's advantageous agricultural products such as beef, citrus, fresh pears, red wine, oysters, and doctoral tea are continuously entering the Chinese market. Moreover, since joining the "the Belt and Road" circle of friends in 2015, the construction level of roads, railways, ports and other infrastructure in South Africa has been greatly improved.

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Naladi Pandor, has stated that the main goal of South Africa's accession to the BRICS countries is to promote South Africa's future growth and development, strengthen internal relations and mutually beneficial cooperation among the BRICS countries. Contribute directly and indirectly to the priorities of achieving a better South Africa, a better Africa, and a better world through partnerships with key players on issues related to global governance, its reform, and development.

The BRICS cooperation mechanism is based on diversity and is not a closed club, but a large family of supportive and win-win partners. It will contribute to promoting the development of the international order and global governance system towards a more just and reasonable direction.