China and South Africa launched a cooperation initiative on Sunday aimed at supporting modernization in Africa.

The initiative was launched on the sidelines of the G20 summit being held in Johannesburg from Saturday to Sunday. It builds on the commitments made at the Beijing summit of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, during which China announced 10 partnership actions to support the modernization of Africa.

This is a cooperation initiative between China and South Africa aimed at supporting the modernization of Africa and encouraging the international community to increase attention and investment in Africa.

"The cooperation initiative for the modernization of Africa was jointly developed by China and Africa. [It has distinctive African characteristics and charts the course for Africa's development. These include a large population moving together towards the goal of modernization and common prosperity for all. We believe that no one should be left behind, that there is ethnic, material and cultural progress, harmony between humanity and nature, and, above all, peaceful development. China has proven through its own practice that modernization is by no means a one-size-fits-all issue, nor a privilege reserved for a small handful of countries," said Zhao Wenfei, Minister-Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in South Africa.

The initiative also calls on other countries to strengthen international cooperation on green infrastructure and green mining.

"This initiative comes amid urgent calls for deeper international cooperation in the field of mineral resources. Green and low-carbon development gives new impetus to high-quality development in the mining sector and creates new development opportunities for all countries. The initiative outlines an action plan that proposes feasible paths for sustainable and ecological development in the mining sector. It clarifies the concepts of green mining and minerals and identifies seven areas of cooperation to share the benefits through joint contribution in a flexible and practical manner," said Lin Feng, Director General of International Economic and Trade Affairs at the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

This initiative is supported by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

"UNCTAD is very committed to and supportive of the initiative that has been presented, and we have been particularly involved in the Green Mining and Minerals Initiative, which is very close to what we do. Let me begin by saying that somewhere in a rural area of South Africa tonight, a family will light sun-powered lamps. In a village in Ethiopia, a clinic will refrigerate vaccines using batteries, and Chinese technology and investment have made a very important contribution to making these tremendous opportunities possible," said Rebeca Grynspan, UNCTAD Secretary-General.

Details of the initiative and how it will be implemented have not yet been announced. But its launch is yet another reminder of the growing cooperation between China and South Africa, the impact of which is being felt in both countries and across the African continent.