President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is not worried that his corporation with China will affect diplomatic relations with the United States.
China is currently facing a trade war with the United States after President Donald Trump imposed tariff hikes on Chinese goods being exported to the U.S. Beijing has reciprocated.
Ramaphosa says South Africa has a right to associate with whoever it wants and with countries that respect its sovereignty and independence. The President was answering questions at a media brief at the closing of the BRICS summit at the Sandton Convention Centre.
The South African President says BRICS has emerged as a new important economic bloc.
Ramaphosa also says Russia has responded in an accommodating manner to South Africa’s position that it cannot afford a nuclear energy build programme at the moment. He says Russian President Vladimir Putin understood South Africa’s position during their bilateral discussions at the BRICS summit.
The summit also agreed to set up a vaccine centre in South Africa. Africa is plagued by the highest number of people living with TB and HIV/Aids.
The leaders of BRICS were unanimous about the success of the summit.
The African heads of state looking forward to reaping the results of the BRICS Development Bank.
Below is the media briefing by the President…
