in 1998, during the era of Nelson Mandela, after years of friendly ties with Taiwan. Mandela chose first to attempt to establish ties with both countries and accept them as peers, but under heavy pressure from communist Beijing, South Africa chose China as a more economically and geopolitically valuable partner.

Today, China is South Africa’s largest trading partner, giving Xi significant leverage in negotiations with the country.

“I look forward to having an in-depth exchange of views with President Ramaphosa on bilateral relations, the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, as well as international and regional issues of common concern, so as to jointly elevate China-South Africa relations to a new high in the new era and bring greater benefits to our two peoples,” Xi reportedly said uponor corporation inevitably defaults on the loan, the Chinese government can take control of the infrastructure built with its own money. The plan has caused alarm all over the world, from Sri Lanka – where China recently took over a key port – to Kenya, where China’s efforts in building a major railway project have resulted in the exploitation and abuse of Kenyan workers.

Xi will remain in South Africa, but move to Johannesburg, tomorrow for the beginning of the tenth BRICS summit, which brings together the governments of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

“I hope to discuss cooperation and development with the leaders of other BRICS members, African countries, and other emerging-market countries and developing countries, in order to lift the solidarity and cooperation between developing countries