A bilateral human rights seminar in Tshwane emphasized the critical need for strengthened multilateralism to protect and advance the right to development for countries in the Global South, particularly in Africa.
The event underscored shared challenges facing African nations amid eroding global cooperation and proposed deeper China-Africa partnerships as a pathway forward.
Co-organized by the China Foundation for Human Rights Development and the Centre for Africa-China Studies (CACS) at the University of Johannesburg, the 2025 China-South Africa Seminar on Human Rights brought together approximately 50 experts, scholars, and officials from both nations.
Discussions focused on China’s four major global initiatives (Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, and others), reforms in global human rights governance, and practical cooperation to promote development rights.
Key Concerns for Africa
Participants highlighted how the recent erosion of multilateralism poses significant threats to Africa’s development. David Monyae, Director of CACS at the University of Johannesburg, noted that weakening international cooperation disproportionately harms the Global South, undermining efforts to achieve sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction, and equitable access to resources.
Rising unilateral actions and geopolitical tensions were cited as exacerbating inequalities, with African countries often bearing the brunt of disrupted trade, investment shortages, and limited voice in global institutions.
Calls for Enhanced Cooperation
Li Hongkui, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China Foundation for Human Rights Development, stressed the growing challenges to global human rights and urged greater exchanges among Global South nations. He advocated for building consensus on human rights development, upholding “true multilateralism,” and jointly countering threats to international governance.
Experts emphasized that China and South Africa, as leading voices in the Global South, share aligned views on these issues.
Proposals included:
- Deepening bilateral and multilateral dialogues on human rights.
- Implementing China’s global initiatives in African contexts.
- Promoting high-quality cooperation under frameworks like the Belt and Road Initiative.
Sharing governance experiences to develop tailored, people-centered development models suited to African realities.
Attendees agreed that such collaboration could contribute to a fairer, more equitable global human rights system, prioritizing development as a foundational right.
Broader Implications for Africa
The seminar aligns with ongoing China-Africa efforts to advance development rights, building on platforms like the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
For African nations, the discussions reinforce the importance of South-South solidarity in addressing common hurdles, such as reforming international financial and governance structures to amplify Africa’s influence.
By fostering mutual learning and practical partnerships, initiatives like this seminar aim to accelerate progress toward the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, ensuring that Africa’s right to development is realized amid a shifting global landscape.
This event reflects a growing emphasis on inclusive multilateralism as a tool for empowering the Global South, with China positioning itself as a key partner in Africa’s pursuit of equitable growth and human rights advancement.
