"The future of BRICS cooperation is encouraging"
At a caf é in the commercial district of Johannesburg, South Africa, Garth Sheldon, an international relations professor and China Africa relations expert at the University of Kingsoft in South Africa, took out a business card holder he had purchased in China and told our reporter about his experiences in China. "I haven't been to China for a few years, and China is changing rapidly. With the development of digital technology, you rarely use business card holders now, right?" Sheldon said with a smile.
"In recent years, South China's mutually beneficial and pragmatic cooperation has yielded fruitful results." Sheldon said that China insists on expanding high-level opening-up to the outside world, bringing important development opportunities to South Africa, other BRICS countries, and other African countries.
"During the 15th meeting of BRICS leaders held recently, the heads of state of South and China witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation documents, covering many areas that South Africa urgently needs to develop, such as new energy power, economic zones and industrial parks, blue economy, and technological innovation." Sheldon believes that these achievements reflect the friendly cooperation between South Africa and China over the past 25 years. At present, the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries is becoming increasingly close. China is South Africa's largest trading partner, a major source of investment, and a close cooperative partner. Both sides are jointly committed to promoting global governance towards a more just and reasonable direction.
"I have discussed with students their views on the results of this meeting. They all believe that the meeting exceeded expectations and BRICS cooperation has achieved breakthroughs in many fields." Sheldon said that as an international relations scholar, he is very excited about the new height of strategic mutual trust between South China and China, and is full of confidence in the development of South China relations, BRICS cooperation, and Africa China relations. "BRICS countries have reached broad consensus in trade, finance, currency, culture, and other fields. The BRICS cooperation mechanism is full of vitality, huge potential, and bright prospects."
Sheldon stated that South Africa officially joined the BRICS countries in 2011, and this year the BRICS cooperation mechanism has experienced a historic expansion. The newly joined countries will make new positive contributions to the BRICS cooperation mechanism. "Many developing countries still hope to join, proving the strong vitality and influence of the BRICS cooperation mechanism, and the future of BRICS cooperation is encouraging."
"The African China Leaders' Dialogue held this time has achieved many concrete results." Sheldon particularly appreciates the three measures proposed by China to strengthen practical cooperation between Africa and China, and to support the cause of African integration and modernization. Over the past 10 years, Sheldon has conducted research on many African China cooperation projects, believing that these projects have brought economic and social benefits to African countries and enhanced their well-being. "Many opinion polls show that African people have a positive view of China, and the mutual understanding between African countries and China is constantly deepening. We believe that with the gradual implementation of the results of the dialogue, the comprehensive strategic partnership between Africa and China will surely achieve greater development."
