Wang Yi Meets South African Minister in the Presidency Ntshavheni

Summary

On 22 June 2026, Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, met with Ntshavheni, Minister in the Presidency of South Africa, in New Delhi. Both sides stressed that as founding members of BRICS, China and South Africa should jointly uphold multilateralism and democratisation of international relations, and oppose unilateralism and the law of the jungle. Wang Yi stated that China is a reliable partner for South Africa and Africa, and that the current China-South Africa relationship is developing steadily.

Both sides should implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, improve exchange mechanisms, deepen strategic mutual trust, and leverage policy dividends such as zero-tariff treatment and the 'Green Channel' 2.0 for African agricultural and food products to China to drive modernisation. Ntshavheni thanked China for its long-term support, expressed expectations for enhanced cooperation in trade, investment, cybersecurity, and infrastructure, reaffirmed South Africa's firm commitment to the One-China policy, and expressed willingness to coordinate with China in multilateral platforms such as BRICS to safeguard the rights and interests of developing countries.

Commentary

Although this news focuses on China-South Africa relations, it also offers insights for small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners in New Zealand. Firstly, China's deepening cooperation with South Africa and Africa may accelerate the entry of African agricultural products into the Chinese market through zero-tariff policies and the 'Green Channel' 2.0. New Zealand agricultural products (e.g., dairy, fruit) compete with African products to some extent, so it is necessary to monitor whether China grants Africa greater price advantages or quota preferences.

Secondly, the emphasis on the BRICS mechanism and Global South solidarity by South Africa may push China to lean more towards developing country interests in trade rules. As a developed economy, New Zealand needs to keep an eye on the direction of changes in China's import policies. On the other hand, the deepening of China-Africa cooperation could also create indirect opportunities for New Zealand businesses: for example, New Zealand firms could partner with Chinese companies to leverage their African networks to enter the South African market, or draw on China's experience in Africa to expand their own supply chain presence on the continent.

It is recommended that New Zealand SME owners monitor the detailed rules for African agricultural product access to China, assess the differentiated competitiveness of their own products in the Chinese market, and explore potential alignment with China-Africa cooperation projects.

Keywords: Wang Yi, South Africa, BRICS, multilateralism, zero-tariff, green channel, China-South Africa relations, Global South, cooperation, diplomacy

Source: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in New Zealand