By Jaya Josie
A year ago, South Africa hosted the BRICS Summit on August 22, 2023. This year August 2, 2024 Chinas focus on South Africa began with a high-level symposium in Cape Town hosted by Minister Liu Jinchao.
Minister Liu is the minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The minister was accompanied by three other colleagues from China. The aim of the visit was to provide South Africa with a deeper understanding of the results of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC. The symposium was also intended to highlight the opportunities that Chinas development presents for South Africa.
From 2006 to 2013, Minister Liu Jinchao served successively as Director-General of the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines and Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia. In November 2013, Mr. Liu was appointed Assistant Minister and Member of the CPC Committee of the MFA. Mr. Liu became Deputy Director (vice-ministerial level) of the National Bureau of Corruption Prevention and Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in August 2015. He later served as Member of the Standing Committee of CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection in April 2017 and served concurrently as Chairman of Zhejiang Provincial Commission of Supervision in July of the same year. In March 2018 Mr Liu became Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs. He is also a delegate to the National Peoples Congress of the CPC.
Following the 2023 visit of President Xi Jinping, Minister Lius visit in 2024 is an indication that China is placing South Africa on the top of its list of priorities for Africa and the global stage. In keeping with political protocol Mr Lius first meeting in Pretoria, on July 31 was with Solly Afrika Mapaila, General Secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP).
