Strengthened solidarity

Shortly after assuming office for the second time, United States President Donald Trump announced a sudden 90-day suspension of the US Agency for International Development as part of his "America First" agenda, suspending billions of dollars in global funding.

With such actions, "America First" is in danger of becoming "America alone". In fact, world trade routes and its circle of friends are gravitating toward China rather than the US.It suggests that any country unwilling to engage in trade with China may find itself at a disadvantage, a message that the Trump administration does not seem to grasp.

The bilateral relations between South Africa and the US are complex, and the Trump administration froze all US aid to South Africa. This aid block is the culmination of a number of bilateral sticking points between the US and South Africa that were building up even during the administration of former president Joe Biden, and which are now escalating under the Trump administration.

The government of South Africa has noted this and expressed its concern. President Cyril Ramaphosa responded that "we are witnessing the rise of nationalism and protectionism, the pursuit of narrow interests and the decline of common cause", and added that "but we are not daunted. We will not be deterred. We are a resilient people. We will not be bullied".

The US is also busy reducing its participation in this year's G20 meeting, hosted by South African President Ramaphosa in Johannesburg in November. In fact, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, did not attend the G20 foreign and finance ministers' meetings held in South Africa.

In the face of changes in the international landscape and the challenges South Africa is encountering, the South African government and its people have warmly welcomed China's firm support and solidarity. Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng expressed China's readiness to support South Africa's G20 presidency.

As it prepares to host the historic G20 Summit, the first to be held on the African continent, South Africa should be confident that its solid collaboration with China will contribute to fostering inclusive and sustainable development, particularly for the Global South.

The growing cooperation and solidarity between Africa and China was clearly demonstrated by the joint release of a significant document titled the Consensus Among African and Chinese Think Tanks on Deepening Global Development Cooperation, also referred to as the Africa-China Dar es Salaam Consensus, under the auspices of the important China-Africa Think Tanks Forum, in Dar es Salaam in March 2024. This commendable document represents a significant and admirable strategic initiative by African and Chinese scholars to deepen exchanges and mutual learning. The document provides significant guidance for deepening global development cooperation. It not only reflects the breadth and depth of cooperation between Africa and China, but also injects new impetus into the common development of Global South countries.

In a subsequent joint letter to President Xi Jinping, 63 scholars from 50 African countries stressed they were deeply encouraged by his dynamic leadership and strategic contribution which is strongly reflected in an unwavering commitment to China's high-quality modernization through reform and opening-up.

In his valued and constructive letter of reply, President Xi encouraged African scholars to continue to provide intellectual support for building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future and safeguarding the common interests of the Global South.

China has not only firmly supported South Africa but also actively promoted cooperation among Global South countries. And the consensus document, in essence, represents the collective call of the Global South for the international community to deepen development cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect, solidarity, win-win cooperation, openness and common prosperity.

Africa and China therefore look forward, as stated in the consensus document, to working with the international community to deepen the solidarity, cooperation and the alignment between international initiatives. In this regard, it is vital to promote the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the African Union's Agenda 2063, enhance high-quality Belt and Road Initiative cooperation, implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, in order to open a new chapter in global development and modernization. It is against the background of today's global situation, characterized by multiple and complex challenges, that Africa and China are striving to strengthen unity and cooperation with other Global South countries to jointly push for a more equal, just and rational international order.

The creation of Africa-China Dar es Salaam Consensus is a step toward this goal and it should be commended and celebrated.

The author is a senior research fellow at the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University and a former senior diplomat in the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation. The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

Contact the editor at editor@chinawatch.cn.