On February 1, 2023 local time, Coordinator of China’s BRICS Affairs and Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu attended the First BRICS Sherpa and Sous-Sherpa Meeting 2023 in Limpopo Province of South Africa.

In his speech, Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu thanked all parties for their valuable support to China’s chairmanship in 2022. He recalled a series of fruitful achievements of BRICS cooperation in political guidance, practical cooperation and institution building during the BRICS China Year, saying that China stands ready to work with South Africa, this year’s chair, and other BRICS partners to implement the outcomes and common understandings of previous BRICS summits, continuously deepen the BRICS strategic partnership, consolidate the sound momentum of BRICS mechanism development, and push forward BRICS cooperation toward higher quality, so as to make greater contributions to world peace and development.

South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor delivered a video speech, highly praising China for leading BRICS countries in overcoming difficulties and challenges last year, taking BRICS cooperation to a new level and effectively enhancing the influence of the BRICS mechanism. Pandor said, South Africa will remain committed to strengthening BRICS solidarity and cooperation, expanding partnerships between BRICS countries and other developing countries, working for the building of a more just and equitable international order, and providing BRICS strength for common prosperity and stability.

The BRICS chairmanship handover ceremony was held at the meeting. Ma Zhaoxu, on behalf of China, delivered the BRICS chairmanship handover report and gavel to South Africa. South Africa briefed on its general plan for hosting this year’s summit and the ideas for promoting cooperation in various fields. All the participants spoke highly of China’s outstanding contributions as the chair last year and expressed their full support for South Africa’s chairmanship to jointly deepen and substantiate BRICS cooperation.