Cape Town – Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed support for South Africa in hosting various activities of the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) group during a phone call with President Cyril Ramaphosa, a statement said on Friday.
The call took place amid discussions in Pretoria about changing the venue of an upcoming summit to avoid executing an international arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin if he attends.
The warrant, issued by the International Criminal Court, accuses Putin of war crimes related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
South Africa, as a signatory to the court, would be obligated to detain Putin if he attends the summit in Johannesburg. China, not being a member of the ICC, would provide a safe venue for Putin.
According to Bloomberg News, the Chinese statement did not mention the possibility of hosting the summit in China.
South Africa and five other African nations recently proposed an initiative to help resolve the Ukraine conflict, which Xi welcomed, while Ramaphosa supported China’s proposal for a political settlement.
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Last week, Ramaphosa said he was currently considering the matter of Putin attending the Brics summit in August.
“The issue of president Putin attending the summit, the Brics summit as I have said is being discussed in the light of the International Criminal Court having issued a warrant for his arrest.
“We being South Africa being the host, obviously, have to discuss this and come up with a clear position,” the president said while addressing the media on Tuesday after bilateral talks with Portuguese counterpart President Marcelo Rebelo De Sousa, who is on a state visit to South Africa, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
“Much of what you hear being said around is really just talk. As I said in one press conference, in the end you will hear from me. I will be the one who will say this is what is going to happen,” he added.
Ramaphosa confirmed that a committee, led by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, convened for its inaugural meeting on Monday. The committee’s objective is to explore the available options for the government in response to the ICC’s warrant of arrest against Putin.
He said the committee will be submitting its report and a decision will be taken on what the next step should be.
“The inter-ministerial committee met yesterday and obviously they are still finalising their minutes and their report will be presented to the appropriate structure, me first and thereafter either go to Cabinet tomorrow or another day. What I can guarantee is that this matter will be well handled and I will make the announcement,” IOL quoted him as saying.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
