Chinese Ambassador to South Africa, Wu Peng, says the “comrades plus brothers” special bond between China and South Africa is growing and that the bilateral relations between the two countries have entered a golden era. Peng made these remarks following a courtesy call to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday, August 28th. China is currently South Africa’s largest trading partner and serves as a key source of foreign direct investments (FDI). In 2023, the China-South Africa bilateral trade reached…

Given the rate at which youth population in numerous African countries is growing, the continent promises to emerge as a major consumption market in the coming decades. More than 70 percent of Africa’s population is under the age of 35, and by 2030, 42 percent of the world’s young people are expected to reside on the continent. This data points to the potential the continent has to quickly industrialise, develop its economic scale, and innovate in order to compete on…

China’s evolving role in global affairs presents a narrative of progressive engagement, marked by a proactive stance on issues of trust, fairness, peace and stability. The country’s emergence as a significant player on the world stage is characterised not merely by economic prowess, but also by a growing commitment to mediating conflicts, fostering cooperation, and promoting mutual development. China’s burgeoning influence through various diplomatic initiatives and engagements has implications for the contemporary international order.  At the heart of China’s approach…

Ethiopia is a viable investment option for those in the tourism industry, according to the Ethiopian Investment Commission. This was reported by ENA. According to the commission, Ethiopia provides investment prospects in the development of specific locations as well as in the building of tourism infrastructure, such as hotels and resorts, conference centres, duty-free centres, cultural villages, and centres. According to the source, the nation boasts the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites in Africa, with nine to be…

During the Two Sessions of 2024, the emergence of an innovative vision for the economy was at the heart of the debates, with an emphasis on high-quality development. This approach is based on new quality productive forces and the rise of the digital economy.  Over time, technologies such as the Internet, big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain have been seamlessly integrated into all areas of economic and social development. On a global scale, the scientific and technological…

Sputnik news agency and radio broadcaster held a roundtable Moscow – Johannesburg – Cairo – Addis Ababa – Eldoret on the theme: “Russia – African Union: topical issues of cooperation”. Among the participants were Beyene Petros, Director General of the Policy Studies Institute (PSI) (Ethiopia); Mahasha Rampedi, African Times Editor-in-Chief (South Africa); Frank Masese, Director of Linkages and collaboration at Eldoret University (Kenya); Mostafa Ahmed, Senior Researcher at Al Habtoor Research Centre (Egypt); Alexander Shchipin, Head of Information, Sputnik Africa in Ethiopia; Valens Maniragena, Senior Lecturer…

In an inspirational speech in 1996, then South African Deputy President Thabo Mbeki said, “Whatever the setbacks of the moment, nothing can stop us now! Whatever the difficulties, Africa shall be at peace! However improbable it may sound to the sceptics, Africa will prosper!”   The 37th African Union (AU) Summit was convened in Addis Ababa on 17 February, where leaders from across Africa converged to deliberate on pressing issues and chart a course for the future of the continent. The…

The MK Party has strongly condemned the DA’s claims that it poses a threat to national security, labelling the official opposition’s call for the US to intervene in South Africa’s upcoming general elections a “treasonous act.” The newly launched political party led by former President Jacob Zuma threatened legal action against the DA unless it withdrew the “derogatory” allegations against it. South Africa’s independent elections body, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), also expressed reservations about the DA’s unorthodox approach which…

The dawn of 2024 marked a significant milestone in the geopolitical landscape as Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) officially joined the BRICS grouping. This expansion, the second phase of the growth for the grouping since South Africa’s inclusion in 2011, signals a pivotal moment for the developing world.  As the current chair of the grouping, the Russian Federation is set to host the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, the capital city of the Republic…

Believe it or not, the African continent usually picks its political strength from South Africa’s leadership. When South Africa is weak, it replicates across the Continent. Who will lead in this direction? Is South Africa failing as a pioneer strong state? In the Federalist Paper no 51, one of America’s founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton, wrote: “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, no checks and balances on government would be necessary. In framing…