Johannesburg played host on December 3, 2025, to a high-profile promotional event for the English edition of the fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. The gathering drew around 200 participants, including government officials, scholars, media representatives, and civil society figures – a sign that China-South Africa relations are expanding beyond trade and infrastructure, into the domain of ideas and governance exchange.
At the event, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, praised the book for offering “valuable insights and approaches” for countries in the Global South seeking their own paths to modernisation. He pointed out that the volume covers key themes such as poverty alleviation, innovation-driven development, and global cooperation – areas that resonate with South Africa’s developmental agenda.
The Chairperson of South Africa’s National Assembly, Cedric Frolick, added that the book offers a comprehensive blueprint for China’s future development and serves as a reference for nations seeking alternative models of governance and development in a rapidly changing world. He noted principles emphasized in the book such as “people-first”, green development, and common prosperity as particularly relevant for nations striving for equitable growth
Observers at the event highlighted how this initiative comes at a time when China and South Africa, both key members of BRICS, are strengthening cooperation under frameworks that include trade, infrastructure, green energy, and industrial development. The promotion of governance literature signals a growing dimension in bilateral ties, emphasising shared values, knowledge exchange, and capacity building.
The fifth volume compiles 91 speeches and writings by Xi Jinping from May 2022 to December 2024, alongside 41 photographs documenting China’s path toward modernisation under challenging global conditions. The book is viewed as a valuable window into China’s governance philosophy and development strategy – information that could help South African policymakers and civil society shape their own responses to economic and social challenges.
The event, co-organized by the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, the State Council Information Office of China, and the China International Communications Group underlines the evolving nature of China-Africa relations. Beyond infrastructure or trade, cooperation is increasingly about sharing governance ideas, policy frameworks, and approaches to modernisation that may resonate across societies in the Global South.
