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BRICS, Bridge Building and Mercantilism
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 In preparation for the upcoming BRICS summit in China in September 2017 and for planning of the next summit in 2018 in South Africa, the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD) and the South African BRICS Think Tank (SABTT) hosted a symposium in Pretoria on 20 April 2017.
Opening the symposium Dr Philani Mthembu Executive Director of IGD emphasized the need to promote the phenomenon of BRICS to the citizens of the respective countries. What value is there for Brazilians, Russians, Indians, Chinese and South Africans who make up this bloc? How do ordinary people engage with these countries not only to support the formation but to discover opportunity and realise the potential benefits on offer. Â
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The Netherlands co-creating sustainable solutions in South Africa
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 Relations between the Netherlands and South Africa date back centuries. South African Minister for International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane hosted her Dutch counterpart Foreign Minister Bert Koenders in Pretoria.
Photo: (l-r) Dutch Ambassador Gerards, Minister Koenders, Minister Nkoana-Mashabane and Ambassador Koloane (SA ambassador to the Netherlands)
On the bi-lateral front, the minsters have agreed that good progress has been made in a number of fields which include science and technology, agriculture, the blue ocean economy and security. Nkoana Mashabane said that the Netherlands remains Pretoria's key economic partner. According to trade rankings from January this year, the Netherlands was ranked South Africa's 8th largest export partner in the world and second largest export partner in the EU region. While the visit comes at a time when South Africa's economy is facing serious challenges due to two recent credit rating downgrades, Koenders says Pretoria can resolve the issues.Â
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Singapore and South Africa
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 Ms Qiaowen Zhang and Mr Kemogotsitse Bosielo are stellar examples of the people to people exchange between China and South Africa. Both shared their experiences of their respective stays in each other’s countries. Their remarks contained mutual feelings of admiration and respect for the people of one another’s countries. They were addressing the officials of the Government of South Africa and China at the inaugural meeting of the People to People Exchange Mechanism (PPEM) in Pretoria on April 24 2017.
Photo: SA Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane signing an agreement with the Chinese Vice Minister of Education Mr Tian Xuejun.
Standing behind are SA Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Nathi Mthethwa with Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Ms Liu Yandong. Picture byline: Jacoline Schoonee
The 200 strong, high profile Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier Ms. Liu Yandong appreciated Bosielo’s command of Mandarin which he learnt during his time in Beijing after completing his Masters in International Relations at Tsinghua University. This is the same institution from which President Xi Jin Ping, or Xi Dada, as he is affectionately known by the Chinese, graduated from.Â
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South African Freedom Day celebrated around the World
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