Chinese Premier Li Qiang affirmed Beijing’s commitment to expediting zero-tariff implementation on South African exports and aligning bilateral development goals during recent high-level discussions in Johannesburg, ahead of the G20 Summit. Meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday, November 21, 2025, Premier Li underscored China’s intent to deepen political confidence, offer mutual support on core national interests, and reinforce coordination on global governance, specifically within the BRICS framework and the G20.
Strengthening Economic and Political Ties
The bilateral meeting focused heavily on bolstering the strategic relationship between the two key developing nations. Premier Li emphasized China’s readiness to accelerate the early rollout of zero-tariff treatment for South African goods. This initiative, designed to significantly lower trade barriers, is expected to enhance market access for South African products in China, a vital step toward balancing the trade relationship and boosting South Africa’s export economy.
Beyond immediate trade benefits, the leaders discussed strengthening the synergy between China’s and South Africa’s respective long-term national development strategies. Such alignment aims to integrate infrastructure, industrial capacity, and technological cooperation, potentially unlocking new avenues for growth and investment across sectors like manufacturing, energy, and digital commerce.
Advocating for Global Governance Reform
A substantial portion of the dialogue centered on multilateral cooperation and global financial architecture reform. Premier Li stressed the importance of both nations working together to uphold the principles of the multilateral trading system and resist protectionist tendencies.
Both China and South Africa committed to closer coordination within key international forums, including BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and the G20. Their unified objective is to push for reforms that restructure the current global governance architecture, ensuring it better reflects the status and shared interests of developing countries and emerging markets. This collaboration signals a continued effort by the two nations to advocate for a more equitable global order.
Mutual Support on Core Interests
Crucially, Premier Li pledged China’s steadfast support for South Africa concerning matters touching its core interests and major global concerns, with South Africa offering reciprocal support. This political solidarity highlights the deep level of strategic mutual trust the nations seek to maintain, acting as a foundation for their expanded economic and technical cooperation.
Looking Ahead
The commitments made in Johannesburg set the stage for expanded strategic cooperation, particularly as global economic headwinds persist. The promised zero-tariff implementation is the most tangible immediate takeaway, offering South African businesses a significant competitive edge in the vast Chinese market. Furthermore, the unified stance on global governance signals continued advocacy for emerging economies on the world stage, suggesting these nations will play an increasingly assertive role in shaping future international economic agendas.