Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
CHINA has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the SADC region through global initiatives anchored on international affairs, development, sustainable security, respect for diversity of civilisation and the sovereign equality of all countries.
The reaffirmation came when SADC Executive Secretary Mr Elias Magosi and China’s Special Representative to SADC, Ambassador Fan Yong, met to consolidate the strong partnership between SADC and Beijing in advancing regional development.
In a communiqué, the SADC Secretariat said that during the meeting, Ambassador Fan announced an annual grant of US$90 000 for the 2026-2027 Financial Year to support capacity building initiatives at the Secretariat to enable effective delivery of its regional mandate.
China provides an annual grant of US$90 000 to the SADC Secretariat in line with the Framework Agreement between SADC and China signed in October 2019.
“The SADC Executive Secretary thanked the Chinese Government for the continued support to the Secretariat and for bilateral cooperation with SADC Member States.
“He expressed optimism that the relationship between SADC and China will continue to grow from strength to strength in addressing the region’s challenges,” said SADC.
Ambassador Fan reiterated China’s steadfast commitment to supporting the SADC region through a range of global initiatives.
He said this engagement was grounded in Beijing’s wider approach to international affairs, one that emphasises development cooperation, the pursuit of sustainable security, and a consistent respect for the diversity of civilisations.
Ambassador Fan also highlighted China’s belief in the sovereign equality of all states, underscoring that countries must be treated as equal partners in international cooperation.
“The meeting provided an opportunity to review progress on the utilisation of the previous Grant and plans for the utilisation of the new grant in the 2026/27 Financial Year,” said SADC.
Meanwhile, SADC will convene its 46th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government on August 17 at the Durban International Conference Centre in Durban, South Africa.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will host and chair the 46th SADC Summit under the theme, “Resilient, sustainable and inclusive industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World”.
In a press release, the regional body said the theme emphasises the development of infrastructure, agriculture, and critical minerals to advance industrialisation and build a SADC region that is industrially competitive, climate-resilient, socially inclusive, and able to deliver a just and prosperous future for SADC citizens.
