COSATU welcomes the recently concluded mission to the Peoples Republic of China, on the invitation by the All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU). The ACFTU hosted the 1^st China Africa Trade Union Leaders Summit modelled along the lines of FOCAC (Forum for China Africa Cooperation). FOCAC was held in Beijing in the month of September and set out 10 major areas of agreed commitments that underlie the relationship between China and our continent, Africa.

COSATU was represented by the General Secretary, Solly Phetoe, who addressed the Opening Ceremony, outlining the strategic significance of the special relationship, dating back to the days of struggle against apartheid colonialism in South Africa and throughout the continent in general.

The Summit was held under the theme of modernisation and the role of trade unions, which also provided the participants with valuable practical experiences of modernisation and organisation of workers in pursuit of decent work, job creation and skilling in various sectors of the economy.

Towards this end, COSATU wishes to use this important platform to also clarify a few issues of major policy significance for workers and South Africa as a country. These are;

1. On COSATU’s commitment to the China Africa Trade Union Cooperation – COSATU affirms its full commitment to the elements of the joint programme, exchanges and cooperation and pledges to work with our sister federations on the continent towards a more effective programme of capacity building, research, organising and collective bargaining, as well as technical skills development.

2. On the sovereign right of South Africa to determine its full expression of the country’s democratic foreign Policy of one China and the effective relocation of Taiwan from the Capital, Pretoria – COSATU welcomes the bold step by our government to affirm the fundamental tenets of our post-apartheid democratic Foreign Policy, which recognises the One China Policy based on clear UN resolutions. This consolidates the correction of an apartheid policy of recognising Taiwan as a state, yet it is known that it is an island of China and not recognised by almost all, except only 12 countries in the world. This is also based on the correct understanding of the history of China and how Taiwan was an attempt by reactionary forces to try and break away from mainland China, which could not succeed and China remains one country. COSATU further notes the attempts by Taiwan to resist and mobilise sentiment which has seen certain countries, who themselves only recognise Taiwan as an island of mainland China and not a state, meddling for their own self-interest on the matter.

3. On the recently concluded BRICS Plus which was held in the city of Kazan in the Russian Federation as an important foundation of the new and inclusive global development system – COSATU welcomes the successful hosting of the BRICS in its extended form and the growing convergence in regard to major global questions facing humanity. This is reflected in the growing interest by developing countries to be part of this important platform for the global south. BRICS should continue to be the force for new inclusive development by ensuring a progressive challenge to the super dominance of unipolarity in global affairs. It is our firm belief that the current global system excludes major parts of the world, particularly Africa and other developing regions of the world, hence the persistently unequal relations in the world.

Towards this end, we reaffirm our perspectives as outlined in the various BRICS Trade Union Forum declarations, with the last one being held on the 8^th and 9^th September 2024 in the city of Sochi.

Issued by COSATU

For more information, please contact:

Bongani Masuku(COSATU International Secretary)
Cell: 079 499 6419