Chinese president's article on China-S. Africa ties continues attracting positive comments

JOHANNESBURG - The article written by Chinese President Xi Jinping about his visit to South Africa and published in the South African daily newspaper The Star continued to receive positive comments from scholars and academics on Thursday, two days after it was published.

In this article titled, "A rainbow of friendship," the Chinese president portrays China and South Africa as long time friends who share a lot of common interests.

Gideon Chitanga, a researcher at the Centre for Study of Democracy at the University of Johannesburg, said that by explaining China's role in helping South Africa during the war against apartheid, President Xi demonstrates that China is a real friend of South Africa with good intentions.

"The article postures a strong bond between China and South Africa. It goes a long way in showing shared interests between the two countries," Chitanga said

"It demonstrates the need for the two countries to continue to strengthen their diplomatic, economic and political relations," Chitanga said.

By saying that "China and South Africa should be development partners pursuing equality, mutual benefit and win-win co-operation," President Xi is showing China's willingness to go out of its way to offer assistance in a way that is generally acceptable to South Africa, Chitanga said.

"The unique feature of the article is the focus on brotherly relations and mutual benefits," the researcher said.

"This stance has made China to get thumbs up from African countries since they have made it clear that they do not want trade partners that will dictate to them,"added the researcher.

"As one of the biggest investors in South Africa, China has managed to strategically align its goals with those of South Africa and other African countries," he said.

In the article President Xi also praised the upcoming Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), saying the mechanism "has brought real benefits to the Chinese and African people."

"By saying the African countries share a common aspiration for faster progress in industrialization and agriculture modernization, President Xi is demonstrating that China knows exactly what Africa needs," Chitanga said.

"This understanding attracts the attention of African countries who have in the past experienced brutal colonialism and oppression and are now looking for development partners who have their interests at heart,"Chitanga added.