"We will not be intimidated by the United States" – Ramaphosa

JOHANNESBURG – President Cyril Ramaphosa, addressing the media after the end of the BRICS summit on Friday, said that South Africa would not be prevented from stopping doing business with China.

Ramaphosa slammed the trade war in which the United States hit China with tariffs on 500 billion dollars (6.57 billion rand) of imports, saying that it was inconsistent with the rules of the World Trade Organization.

Beijing has put in place retaliatory measures against US imports. Mr. Ramaphosa, responding to a question about whether South Africa would not risk driving the United States to support China, said that the BRICS countries were independent and could choose who they wanted to badociate with.

He said China was the second largest economy in the world and had a lot to offer to support emerging economies. China, the world's second-largest economy, pledged last week to invest $ 147 billion in the South African economy.

The investment was announced during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to South Africa, where he also attended the 10th BRICS Summit, which is taking place over three days in Johannesburg. Chinese investors would also have signed an agreement for the construction of a $ 10 billion metallurgical complex in South Africa, with construction scheduled to begin next year. The complex was still in the planning stage and was planning the construction of a stainless steel plant.

The greatest partner
China has been South Africa's largest trading partner for the past nine years, with bilateral trade reaching $ 39.2 billion in 2017. According to the Chinese Ambbadador to South Africa, investment Chinese in South Africa exceed $ 25 billion. Lin Songtian. President Ramaphosa said that South Africa would cooperate with all bloc member countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India and China.

He stated that the principles of solidarity, collaboration and mutual benefit were at the root of their commitment to the BRICS.

"We feel comfortable working together.Our policy direction is very similar.We will continue with the level of cooperation." You can not wish for a better forum for badociation than the BRICS ", did he declare.

Ramaphosa said emerging countries had emerged as an important bloc in world affairs and in the global South. He called the club BRICS countries that sought to promote the growth of their economies. On bilateral trade with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ramaphosa said they discussed a number of issues on cooperation in the mining sector, among others. The Russians also wanted to know the position of South Africa on nuclear power. He said that he had given Mr. Putin a "clear and direct answer" that the country was pursuing a mixed energy policy including coal, renewable energy, hydropower and nuclear power. "

– COMPANY REPORT