China Resumes High-Level Diplomatic Visits to Africa

Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlun met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Cape Town on February 16, 2023. Image via Xinhua.

Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan met late last week with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during a brief visit to Cape Town.

Sun’s visit comes one month after Foreign Minister Qin Gang did a five-nation tour and marks a return to senior-level Chinese diplomatic visits to the continent at a time when Africa is now a very popular destination for ministers from Europe and the U.S., among other regions.

The Vice Premier, who is also China’s highest ranking female lawmaker and a member of the powerful Politburo, went to Cape Town to co-chair the China-South Africa High-level People-To-People Exchange Mechanism.

She also held a separate meeting with members of the ruling African National Congress party.

by Eric Olander

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