Political Supervision Message ahead of CCDI Plenary - Coverage of Wang Yi's Africa Visit - Zhong Caiping Commentary on Opening-up Policy
Here are the key reports and articles from the People’s Daily’s edition on Monday, January 12, 2026.
Page 1: There are some tough messages being delivered for cadres and officials across the system ahead of the upcoming CCDI plenary session.
Today, there’s a Ren Ping commentary, which makes the point that concrete, precise, and regular political supervision ensures that the Party unites more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, ensures the thorough implementation of the Party Central Committee’s major decisions and deployments and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions and directives, ensures that that the orders of the Party Central Committee are carried out and its prohibitions are respected and gathers strong synergy to achieve the Party’s central tasks in the new era and on the new journey.
“From several important meetings convened in December 2025, we read the clear orientation of starting a new journey and opening a new situation. In studying and deploying this year’s work on Party conduct, clean government, and anti-corruption, a meeting of the Politburo proposed: ‘we must deepen and solidify political supervision around achieving the goals and tasks of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, and promote Party members and cadres to establish and practice a correct view of performance, ensuring that the major decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee are implemented effectively’. At the democratic life meeting of the Politburo, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasised that ‘leading officials should have a stronger sense of responsibility, do their utmost to perform their duties well, and take on heavy tasks and tackle difficult challenges within their jurisdiction’. At the Central Economic Work Conference, the General Secretary pointed out: ‘Once something is decided, it must be implemented; all levels and all departments must have a broad perspective and strong execution capabilities’.” 从2025年12月召开的几个重要会议中，我们读出了启新程、开新局的明确指向。研究部署今年党风廉政建设和反腐败工作，中央政治局会议提出：“要围绕实现‘十五五’时期目标任务做深做实政治监督，推动党员干部树立和践行正确政绩观，把党中央重大决策部署落到实处。”在中央政治局民主生活会上，习近平总书记强调：“领导干部要勇于担当，在其位、谋其政、尽其责，在职责范围内主动担重、担难。”在中央经济工作会议上，总书记指出：“定了就要落实，各级各部门都要有大局观、执行力.”
It adds:
Building the Party politically is an important guarantee for the CPC’s continuous growth and strengthening and for moving from victory to victory. ‘Only by standing at a political height can one more thoroughly comprehend the major policies and decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, and can one work with more foresight and initiative,’ reveals the fundamental reason for ‘looking at problems from a political perspective.’ “Consciously maintaining a high degree of consistency in thought, politics, and action with the Party Central Committee, correcting deviations in a timely manner, without compromise, deviation, and distortion,’ reveals the specific connotation of ‘speaking politics.’ ‘Political supervision is a powerful measure to urge the entire Party to persist in the centralised and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee,’ reveals the guaranteeing role of political supervision. From the perspective of the Party’s political construction, and from the three dimensions of overall perspective, execution power, and sense of responsibility, we can profoundly grasp the secret by which the Party Central Committee’s major decisions and deployments, through the whole Party being of one mind and moving in the same direction, lead China to cleave through waves and slash through swells, creating miracles.” 从政治上建设党，是中国共产党不断发展壮大、从胜利走向胜利的重要保证。“只有站在政治高度看，对党中央的大政方针和决策部署才能领会更透彻，工作起来才能更有预见性和主动性”，揭示“从政治上看问题”的根本原因。“自觉在思想上政治上行动上同党中央保持高度一致，及时校正偏差，不打折、不变通、不走样”，揭示讲政治的具体内涵。“政治监督是督促全党坚持党中央集中统一领导的有力举措”，揭示政治监督的保障作用。以党的政治建设为视角，从大局观、执行力、责任感三个维度，我们可以深刻把握，党中央重大决策部署在全党上下同心、同向而行中，引领中国劈波斩浪、创造奇迹的奥秘.
The second part of the article talks about political loyalty, defining it as this:
“Absolute loyalty to the Party requires ‘resolutely responding to what the Party Central Committee advocates, resolutely carrying out what the Party Central Committee decides, and resolutely not doing what the Party Central Committee prohibits.’ ‘When the Party Central Committee looks at problems, it always focuses on the big picture, i.e., what is the most important mission of a given place’; ‘we must, without fail, consider what we are doing and why we are doing it from the perspective of the overall situation and from lofty ideals’; ‘comprehensively and strictly governing the Party must first be viewed from a political perspective’, the General Secretary’s important expositions instruct us that ‘one must always have a clear understanding with regard to matters that are of great interest to the nation’ (国之大者).” 维护党中央集中统一领导是具体的。对党绝对忠诚，就要“做到党中央提倡的坚决响应，党中央决定的坚决照办，党中央禁止的坚决不做”。“党中央看问题，都是从大处着眼，一个地方最重要的使命是什么”；“一定要从大局，从崇高理念中来考虑我们在做什么，为什么要这么做”；“全面从严治党首先要从政治上看”；总书记的重要论述，教诲我们“对国之大者一定要心中有数”。
The third section makes the case for doing the above but adapting development to local conditions. In this regard, it does caution that:
“Resource endowments and basic conditions vary across regions, and only by acting according to objective laws and highlighting one’s own characteristics can a trend of ‘a hundred boats competing in the current’ be formed. Adapting measures to local conditions, in essence, means seeking truth from facts. In developing new quality productive forces, it is imperative to resolutely guard against a headlong rush by everyone at once.” 各地资源禀赋、基础条件等不同，只有按规律办事，突出自身特色，才能形成百舸争流之势。因地制宜，本质是实事求是。发展新质生产力，必须坚决防止一哄而上.
'“There are no ready-made answers for Chinese-style modernisation. It must be boldly explored in practice, combining top-level design with ‘crossing the river while feeling for the stones,’ focusing on the difficult problems in development that cannot be bypassed or avoided, and continuously putting forward new ideas and new methods for solving problems. As localities and departments, in light of actual conditions, creatively carry out their work, and once a course of action is decided upon, it should be pursued with unwavering determination, the magnificent panorama of economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period will surely unfold gradually, presenting a vibrant and dynamic picture.” 中国式现代化没有现成答案，必须在实践中大胆探索，把顶层设计和摸着石头过河结合起来，着眼发展中绕不开、躲不过的难题，不断提出解决问题的新思路新方法。各地区各部门结合实际创造性开展工作，看准了就坚定不移抓，“十五五”经济社会发展的壮阔画卷一定会渐次铺展、气象万千.
The final section talks about preparedness amid challenges and dangers. Some of the language in this is striking. The section also warns about the need to be cautious and not letting small problems evolve into bigger challenges.
“‘Constantly maintaining the caution of walking on thin ice and the acuity of discerning autumn’s arrival from the fall of a leaf’, sense of responsibility tests the accountability of ‘never being able to put one’s mind at ease at any moment’. ‘Once holidays arrive, they disappear and go to other places for vacation. Going so far away, how can one put one’s mind at ease? If something were to happen, what would be done? Being a leading cadre requires a strong sense of responsibility’; ‘Regarding risks and hidden dangers in all fields and all aspects, we must have in our minds a panoramic picture, frequently analyze and assess them, and make scientific judgments about potential risks’. In the face of a profoundly complex and volatile internal and external environment, deeply grasping the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions is crucial for strengthening a sense of vigilance, coordinating development and security, and achieving a good start to the 15th FYP. When working at the local level, Comrade Xi Jinping placed great emphasis on remaining alert even in times of peace. ‘It is better to take 10 precautions even if nine turn out unnecessary than to fail to guard against even a single contingency; it is better to hear curses beforehand than to hear the sound of crying afterward; it is better to believe it will come than to believe it won’t; it is better to believe it will be serious than to believe it will be light’.” “时刻保持如履薄冰的谨慎、见叶知秋的敏锐”，责任感检验“时时放心不下”的担当。“一到节假日就不见了，到外地去休假了。跑到那么远的地方怎么放得下心？一旦有个什么事怎么办？当领导干部就要有强烈的责任感”；“对各领域各方面的风险隐患，我们脑子里要有一幅全景图，经常分析研判，对潜在的风险要有科学预判”。身处深刻复杂变化的内外环境，深入领会习近平总书记重要论述精神，对于增强忧患意识，统筹发展和安全，实现“十五五”良好开局至关重要。在地方工作时，习近平同志就十分重视居安思危。“宁可十防九空，也不能万一失防；宁可事前听骂声，不可事后听哭声；宁可信其来，不可信其无；宁可信其重，不可信其轻”.
Along with this commentary, there’s a piece talking about the importance of further tightening the string of self-revolution. The piece talks about corruption and work styles, and focuses on the campaign around the 8-point central regulations. It informs that “from January to November 2025, a total of 840,000 cases of unhealthy practices and corruption problems around the masses were investigated and handled nationwide, and 66.62 billion yuan in property was directly returned or returned through facilitation to the masses.”
There’s another Zhong Caiping commentary today; this one talks about opening up. It says:
The continuous expansion and upgrading of China’s large market will provide the world with new opportunities for market development. The market is the scarcest resource in the world today. The Chinese market has enormous scale. China has over 1.4 billion people, including a vast middle-income group; total retail sales of consumer goods are expected to exceed 50 trillion yuan by 2025. The Chinese market has considerable potential. It is expected that in the next 10 years, the Chinese middle-income group will exceed 800 million people, and the diverse demands of the people for high-quality life will continue to grow, further unleashing the potential of this super-large market. The Chinese market maintains an open posture. Currently, China imports more than 20 trillion yuan worth of goods annually and is a major export destination for nearly 80 countries and regions. The China International Import Expo (CIIE), held for eight consecutive years, has accumulated intended transaction volume exceeding $580 billion. In the future, China’s door to openness will open wider, facilitating the entry of high-quality products and services from more countries into the Chinese market and allowing them to share in the vast opportunities of the Chinese market. 中国大市场持续扩容升级，将为世界提供市场开拓新机遇。市场是当今世界最稀缺的资源。中国市场有着巨大的规模。中国有14亿多人口包括规模庞大的中等收入群体，2025年社会消费品零售总额有望超过50万亿元。中国市场有着可观的潜力。预计未来10多年，中国中等收入群体有望超过8亿人，人民群众对高品质生活的多样化需求不断增长，超大规模市场潜力将进一步释放。中国市场有着开放的姿态。当前，中国每年有超过20万亿元的进口，是近80个国家和地区的主要出口目的地，连续8年举办的进博会累计意向成交额超过5800亿美元。下一步，中国开放的大门将会越开越大，便利更多国家的优质产品和服务进入中国市场，分享中国市场广阔机遇.
Deepening international cooperation along industrial chains and supply chains will provide the world with new opportunities for symbiotic development. China has consistently ranked as the world’s largest manufacturing country for many years, possessing the world’s largest and most comprehensive production and manufacturing system. It continuously provides the world with high-quality, affordable, and reliable products, becoming a ‘key link’ in global industrial and supply chains. Taking the new energy industry as an example, China has built the world’s largest renewable energy system, and over the past 10 years, it has driven the cumulative cost of global photovoltaic power generation per kilowatt-hour down by more than 80%. Distributed photovoltaic and micro-grid projects implemented by Chinese enterprises in sub-Saharan Africa have not only lit up African nights, but also saved the relevant countries large amounts in energy import costs, enabling them to allocate more funds to development and people’s livelihoods. Going forward, China will further guide the rational and orderly cross-border layout of industrial and supply chains, align with the industrialisation aspirations of Global South countries, deepen cooperation in areas such as new energy, new infrastructure, and green minerals, make positive contributions to promoting economic growth, cooperative development, employment expansion, and improvement of people’s livelihoods in more countries, and write a new chapter. 深化产业链供应链国际合作，将为世界提供共生发展新机遇。中国已连续多年稳居世界第一制造业大国，拥有全球规模最大、门类最齐全的生产制造体系，持续为世界提供质高价优、稳定可靠的产品供给，成为全球产业链供应链的“关键一环”。以新能源产业为例，中国已建成全球规模最大的可再生能源体系，过去10年间推动全球光伏发电度电成本累计下降超过80%。中国企业在撒哈拉以南非洲地区实施的分布式光伏和微电网项目，不仅点亮了非洲的夜晚，还为相关国家节约了大量能源进口成本，使其能够将更多资金用于发展和民生。下一步，中国将进一步引导产业链供应链合理有序跨境布局，契合全球南方国家工业化愿景，深化在新能源、新基建、绿色矿产等领域合作，为促进更多国家经济增长、合作发展、就业扩大、民生改善作出积极贡献，谱写新篇章.(Note: This narrative is worth noting; it is a recognition of the frustration with cheap Chinese imports impeding industrialisation across the developing world. What Beijing is willing and able to do about it is another matter altogether.)
China’s investment environment continues to optimise, which will provide the world with new opportunities for investment and business development. Attracting and utilizing foreign investment is a long-term policy of China’s opening up. In recent years, China has continuously relaxed market access for foreign investment, actively aligned with international high-standard economic and trade rules, steadily expanded institutional opening up, and the business environment has been continuously optimized. China’s vibrant innovation landscape and the unleashed potential of its vast market have brought many new investment opportunities, attracting multinational corporations to establish R&D centers and innovation centers in China. Many foreign companies have stated that China has become a testing ground for global innovation, and that only by staying in China can they keep pace with innovation. Moving forward, China will focus on the service sector to expand market access and opening-up areas, promote reinvestment by foreign companies in China, and support foreign companies in accelerating localized production and participating in upstream and downstream supply chain collaboration. At the same time, China will deepen reforms of the foreign investment promotion system and mechanisms, fully implement national treatment, optimise the entire service system, and continuously build a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalised business environment, ensuring that foreign companies are willing to come, stay, and thrive in China. 中国投资环境持续优化，将为世界提供投资兴业新机遇。吸引和利用外资是中国对外开放的长期方针。近年来，中国持续放宽外商投资市场准入，主动对接国际高标准经贸规则，稳步扩大制度型开放，营商环境不断优化。中国创新场活力澎湃、中国大市场潜力释放，带来许多新的投资机遇，吸引跨国企业纷纷在华设立研发中心、创新中心。许多外资企业表示，中国已成为全球创新的试验场，只有留在中国才能紧跟创新步伐。下一步，中国将以服务业为重点扩大市场准入和开放领域，促进外资境内再投资，支持外资企业加快本地化生产、参与产业链上下游配套协作。同时，深化外商投资促进体制机制改革，全面落实国民待遇，优化全流程服务体系，持续建设市场化法治化国际化营商环境，让外资企业愿意来、留得住、发展好.
The final bit in the article is on BRI. It says:
“Going forward, China will adhere to the guiding principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, as well as being open, green, and clean, and aiming for high standards, sustainability, and benefiting people’s livelihood. It will strengthen alignment with the development strategies of partner countries, improve the layout of multidimensional connectivity networks, deepen and expand cooperation on major landmark projects, cultivate in depth ‘small but beautiful’ signature brands such as Juncao, Bright Journey, and Luban Workshop, steadily expand cooperation in fields such as green development, AI, the digital economy, and health, promote high-quality joint construction of BRI to go deeper and become more substantive, and make new and greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind.” 下一步，中国将坚持共商共建共享、开放绿色廉洁、高标准惠民生可持续的指导原则，加强与共建国家发展战略对接，完善立体互联互通网络布局，深化拓展重大标志性工程合作，深耕菌草、光明行、鲁班工坊等“小而美”特色品牌，稳步拓展绿色发展、人工智能、数字经济、卫生健康等领域合作，推动高质量共建“一带一路”走深走实，为构建人类命运共同体作出新的更大贡献.
Finally, there’s a report on Xi Jinping replying to a letter from an American youth education exchange delegation, which was composed of teachers and students from the Diamond Minds Transformational Leadership Academy in Miami, Florida, the University of Florida and the Miami-Dade College. Xinhua says:
“In the reply letter dated Jan. 7, Xi said he was pleased to learn that the teachers and students had a pleasant and rewarding journey in China, and felt their strong interest and sincere feelings for Chinese culture. Noting that the hope of China-U.S. relations lies in the people, and its future relies on the youth, Xi said since the launch of the ‘50,000 in Five Years’ initiative, over 40,000 U.S. youth have actively participated, opening a window for them to understand the real China and building a bridge to carry forward the friendship between the two peoples. This fully demonstrates that fostering friendly exchanges and cooperation is the shared aspiration of the people of both China and the United States, he said. Xi said he looks forward to more American youth joining the cause of China-U.S. friendship, becoming a new generation of envoys of friendship between the two countries, and making greater contributions to enhancing people-to-people exchanges and promoting the development of bilateral relations.”
Page 3: Let’s cover the meetings that Wang Yi has had during his visit to Africa. Last I had covered was his visit to Ethiopia. Since then, Wang has travelled to Tanzania and Lesotho. He also held phone conversations with counterparts in Somalia and South Africa. So let’s cover the readouts from each of these.
First, in Tanzania, Wang met with President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The readout says:
Suluhu Hassan “said that China is an enduring and steadfast partner with whom Tanzania shares weal and woe, and that the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Party of the Revolution) of Tanzania and the Communist Party of China share a brotherly friendship. The Tanzanian side firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is ready to actively synergize development plans with China, deepen practical cooperation, advance the revitalization of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway and the building of a regional prosperity belt, strengthen inter-party exchanges, expand people-to-people interactions, boost Tanzania’s economic growth, and bring benefits to the two peoples. Tanzania highly commends the four major global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping and stands ready to enhance multilateral coordination with China and promote a more just and equitable global governance system.”
Wang said that the “Chinese side values the relations between the two parties and the two countries and stands ready to work with Tanzania to implement the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state, strengthen experience sharing on governance, deepen practical cooperation, enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and continuously advance the China-Tanzania comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Wang Yi said that the essence of China-Tanzania relations is mutual trust and mutual support, and the defining feature of China-Tanzania cooperation is mutual assistance and mutual achievement. China appreciates Tanzania’s commitment to the one-China principle and firmly supports Tanzania in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and national dignity, as well as pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions. The two sides should actively promote high-quality development of bilateral cooperation and turn the revitalized Tanzania-Zambia Railway into an engine for regional development, a bridge of friendship and a road to prosperity, continuously benefiting the people of Tanzania and other African countries. China supports Tanzania in playing a greater role in regional and international affairs and stands ready to work with Tanzania and other developing countries to be a force for peace, stability and progress in the world.”
Wang also met with Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Mahmoud Thabit Kombo. The readout says:
Wang said that “China always views its cooperation with Africa from the perspective of South-South cooperation featuring mutual support and assistance, and is willing to achieve common development with Africa and jointly build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. The Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) is a symbol of China-Africa friendship and a milestone of bilateral cooperation. China and Tanzania should work together to revitalize the railway, create the TAZARA Prosperity Belt, contribute to Tanzania’s comprehensive development, benefit the local people, and continue to serve as a model of China-Africa cooperation. As countries of the Global South, China and Tanzania should join hands to safeguard the central role of the United Nations and the authority of international law, firmly support multilateralism, promote a more just and equitable global governance system, and defend the legitimate rights and interests of the vast number of developing countries.”
A joint communique was issued after the meetings. Key excerpts:
The China side conveyed its congratulatory message to Tanzania for the successful conduct of the General Elections held in October 2025 and expressed strong support for the Government of Tanzania to safeguard constitutional order, protect lives, property, and national stability in according with law. Both sides reaffirmed their shared rejection of violence, external interference, and actions that undermine national unity. China reiterated its full confidence in Tanzania’s leadership and institutions to manage internal affairs independently. Tanzania reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to support the one-China principle and reiterated its consistent position of recognizing that there is but one China in the world and respecting China’s national unity and territorial integrity, underscoring that any form of secession is unacceptable. Tanzania further supports all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification and the protection of its territorial integrity.
The two sides agreed to further expand the two-way investment and trade. China welcomed Tanzania’s ambition to double its export to China by 2030 and pledged support through capacity building in the field of trade and customs management. China reiterated that its vast market remains open to Tanzania through the zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent tariff lines from African countries having diplomatic relations with China. China will encourage more of its companies to invest in Tanzania. The two sides reaffirmed to further foster a fair and enabling business environment on both sides.
The two sides will actively implement the Joint Statement by China, Tanzania and Zambia on Jointly Building the TAZARA Railway Prosperity Belt, promote integrated development along the TAZARA Railway, connect other infrastructure including railways and ports, explore the potential for widening collaboration in the TAZARA Railway Prosperity Belt for regional development, and set a model for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Africa. The two sides are exploring the possibility of organizing a high-level TAZARA Railway Prosperity Belt meeting in the near future.
Tanzania appreciated a series of ‘Global Initiatives’ advanced by China and committed to actively participate in their relevant activities through the existing bilateral mechanisms and therefore promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. Further, the two sides agreed that the sovereignty and security of all nations should be fully protected under international law. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to firmly upholding the United Nations Charter, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, and calling on settlement of issues through dialogue and negotiation.
In Lesotho, Wang met with Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane. The Chinese readout says:
Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane said that “Lesotho adheres to the one-China principle, and firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests. Lesotho is willing to strengthen strategic mutual trust with China, expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, jointly implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, manufacturing and energy…Lesotho highly appreciates the series of major initiatives put forth by President Xi Jinping and is willing to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS to jointly address global challenges.”
Among other things, Wang said that “China appreciates Lesotho’s commitment to the one-China principle and supports Lesotho in defending state sovereignty, national dignity, and development rights and interests. Both sides should continue to firmly support each other. China will accelerate the implementation of its zero-tariff policy for Africa in Lesotho, expand bilateral economic, trade, investment, and industrial cooperation, facilitate greater access for Lesotho’s specialty products to the Chinese market, and continuously boost Lesotho’s national development. China will continue to stand firmly with African countries, uphold justice for the Global South, including Lesotho, oppose unilateralism and bullying acts, and work together to promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.”
Wang also met with his counterpart Lejone Mpotjoana. The Chinese readout says:
Wang said that “China-Lesotho relations are a good example of China’s observance of the principle of equality among all countries, big or small, in its diplomacy. China views Lesotho as a strategic partner and is ready to work with Lesotho to set a model of mutual respect, equal-footed cooperation, and common development between countries of different sizes…In this changing and turbulent world, unilateralism, hegemonism and protectionism pose threats to world peace and harm the interests of all countries, particularly small and medium-sized nations. The four major global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping aim to achieve prosperity through development, ensure stability through better security, enhance mutual trust through exchanges between civilizations and pursue justice through sound governance. China is ready to join hands with Lesotho to help the Global South seek strength through unity, achieve modernization together, and build a community with a shared future for humanity. Wang Yi said that China appreciates Lesotho’s commitment to the one-China principle and will continue to support Lesotho in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security, and development rights and interests. Both sides should strengthen strategic mutual trust, expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, make full use of the dividends of the zero-tariff policy, deepen practical cooperation across various fields, and promote the continuous advancement of the China-Lesotho strategic partnership.”
As per the readout, Lesotho, opposes “any form of ‘Taiwan independence’”, and “supports all efforts made by China to achieve national reunification.” It also backs Xi’s four global initiatives.
The two sides also issued a joint communique. Key excerpts:
The two sides agreed to firmly support each other on issues involving their respective core interests and major concerns. Lesotho reaffirmed its firm commitment to the one-China principle and recognition that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Lesotho resolutely opposes any form of ‘Taiwan independence’ and firmly supports all efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification. The United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 brooks no question or challenge to its authority. China applauds the new progress that Lesotho continues to make in its national reform process and supports Lesotho in upholding its national sovereignty, security and development interests.
The two sides stressed that promoting human rights is a common cause for all humanity, the right to subsistence and the right to development are basic human rights of primary importance, and exchanges and cooperation on human rights should be carried out based on mutual respect and equality. Issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Xizang are China’s internal affairs. Both sides oppose politicizing, weaponizing and applying double standards to human rights issues and oppose the interference in the internal affairs of the two countries under the pretext of human rights.
The two sides spoke highly of the important outcomes made in ten partnership actions that China and Africa have jointly taken to advance modernization, which have injected new energy into Lesotho’s development in such areas as agriculture, energy transition, infrastructure, health-care and capacity-building. Lesotho appreciates the important opportunities that China’s high-standard opening up offers to all countries of the world, including those in Africa, and it stands ready to work with China to fully leverage the policy dividends of the zero-tariff treatment and deepen cooperation in priority areas to better deliver benefits to the two peoples.
Both sides shared the belief that changes unseen in a century are accelerating and Global South countries are playing an increasingly important role in international affairs. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to close collaboration to jointly oppose unilateral sanctions, protectionism and economic hegemonism, promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, establish a more just and equitable global governance system, and build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity.
Next, let’s look at the readout of Wang Yi’s call with Somali Foreign Minister of Somalia Abdisalam Dhaay. It is important to note that Wang was supposed to visit Somalia, but this is not happening for now. Anyway, the readout of the call says:
Wang said that “Wang Yi emphasised that China and Somalia share a traditional friendship, and China firmly pursues a friendly policy towards Somalia. The two countries have always respected and supported each other, and the China-Somalia strategic partnership will not be affected by temporary events or isolated matters. The Chinese side highly appreciates Somalia’s adherence to the one-China principle through concrete actions. China will, as always, support Somalia in safeguarding national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and oppose the acts of ‘Somaliland’ colluding with the Taiwan authorities to seek ‘independence’. Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China will deepen cooperation with Somalia in economic, trade, security, and defense fields, and take the ‘China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges’ as an opportunity to strengthen friendly exchanges between the two countries and consolidate and develop the bilateral strategic partnership.” 王毅请德埃外长转达中国领导人对马哈茂德总统和巴雷总理的亲切问候，表示中方欢迎马哈茂德总统今年来华出席第二届中国—阿拉伯国家峰会。王毅强调中索有着传统友好，中国坚定奉行对索友好政策，两国始终相互尊重、相互支持，中索战略伙伴关系不会受一时一事的影响。中方高度赞赏索方以实际行动恪守一个中国原则。我们将一以贯之支持索马里维护国家主权、统一和领土完整，反对“索马里兰”勾结台湾当局谋“独”的行径。无论国际风云如何变化，中方都将深化两国经贸、安全、防务等领域合作，以“中非人文交流年”为契机，加强两国友好交往，巩固好、发展好两国战略伙伴关系.
“Wang Yi said that Chinese diplomacy has always firmly stood on the side of developing countries, upholding fairness and speaking out for small and medium-sized countries. China fully supports Somalia’s assumption of the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council this month, and will jointly fulfil the responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. China believes that Somalia will move from governance to prosperity, achieve development and prosperity, and build well the Horn of Peace, the Horn of Development, and the Horn of Cooperation in Africa. 王毅说，中国外交历来坚定站在发展中国家一边，为中小国家主持公道、仗义执言。中方全力支持索方出任联合国安理会本月轮值主席，共同履行维护国际和平与安全的责任。中方相信，索马里将由治及兴，实现发展繁荣，建设好非洲的和平之角、发展之角、合作之角.
Among other things, Dhaay said that “Somalia sincerely thanks China for supporting Somalia in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, opposing all separatist and terrorist acts, and helping Somalia achieve national stability and development. Somalia adheres to the one-China principle, believing that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China, and that the Taiwan issue is entirely an internal affair of China. Somalia highly appreciates the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping and is willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields, promote peace and development in Somalia, contribute to lasting peace in the Horn of Africa region, and jointly build a community of shared future for mankind.” 德埃表示，索方高度赞赏中国外长每年初首访非洲。索中传统友好，发展对华关系是索马里坚定的战略选择。索方衷心感谢中方支持索维护国家的主权和领土完整，反对一切分裂和恐怖行径，帮助索实现国家的稳定与发展。索方恪守一个中国原则，认为台湾是中华人民共和国不可分割的一部分，涉台问题完全是中国的内政。索方高度赞赏习近平主席提出的四大全球倡议，愿同中方深化各领域交流合作，推进索马里的和平与发展事业，促进非洲之角地区实现持久和平，共同构建人类命运共同体.
Wang also spoke to his South African counterpart Ronald Lamola. Among other things, the readout (English report) says:
“Wang noted that South Africa successfully hosted the Group of Twenty (G20) Leaders’ Summit last year despite external pressure, and the Chinese side congratulates South Africa on this achievement. In a world marked by turbulence and uncertainty, China firmly supports South Africa in playing a greater role in international affairs, and stands ready to work with South Africa and other Global South countries to uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, oppose the law of the jungle and hegemonism, and jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, Wang said.”
While on the subject of South Africa, do note that the Will for Peace 2026 naval drills are being held off the country’s coast.
The opening ceremony for this was held on January 10. This exercise is being framed as a BRICS Plus drill, and this is deeply problematic. Brazil and India are not participating in the exercise from what I gather. The BRICS is not supposed to be a military-security grouping. The branding of this drill as a BRICS Plus one is an expansion of the BRICS’ raison d’être, and, in my view, will be detrimental to the group pursuing its core objectives.
Based on the SABC report below, the countries that are involved in the exercise are:
China, participating with ships
South Africa, participating with ships
Russia, participating with ships
Indonesia, participating with observers
Ethiopia, participating with observers
UAE, participating with ships
Iran, participating with ships