Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: US vetoes UNSC draft resolution that would have demanded ceasefire in Gaza, lifting of restrictions on aid.
Reports of explosions at Hama military airport in Syria
Shamkhani to Al Mayadeen: There is no mention of lifting sanctions in the latest US proposal, even though this issue is fundamental for Iran
Ali Shamkhani, political advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran, to Al Mayadeen: After receiving the American proposal, we are now preparing our new proposal
Shamkhani to Al Mayadeen: Iran will never give up its inherent rights
Iranian Defense Minister to Al Mayadeen: Israeli threats to Iran are just pointless nonsense
Iranian Defense Minister to Al Mayadeen: Those who actually possess the power and ability to threaten Iran do not speak as such; they are simply incapable of doing so
Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh to Al Mayadeen: Iran possesses enough power to render 'Israel' incapable of threatening it
Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem after meeting with Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi emphasized the importance of Iran’s positive role in the region and its support for the Palestinian Resistance and its people
Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi after meeting with Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem: Iran is keen to assist Lebanon and stand by its side economically and politically, on the basis of mutual respect

South Africa desires access to Eurasian market, eyes Chinese yuan

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Jan 2023 12:43
  • 2 Shares
5 Min Read

The South African Ambassador to Russia says his country looks forward to partnering with the Eurasian Economic Union.

  • x
  • dsa
    South Africa's Ambassador to Moscow Mzuvukile Jeff Maqetuka in St. Petersburg University, May 2022 (St. Petersburg University)

South African Ambassador to Russia Mzuvukile Jeff Maqetuka expressed to Sputnik his country's anticipation of partnering with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and gaining access to its market, eyeing trade in the Chinese yuan.

"We look forward to this partnership [with EAEU] ... First, it is the partnership, market access. We are talking about the yuan market access here," he said.

South Africa seeks to expand cooperation with Russia in mineral extraction

Maqetuka also told Sputnik that South Africa is interested in fostering cooperation with Russia on the exploration and production of minerals, as well as attracting Russian investments in the country's energy sector.

The official noted that a delegation of 23 South African industrial companies is slated to attend the Mining World Russia trade exhibition in Moscow in April.

"We are still a major player in mining. That is why these companies are going to be there. This is going to be the biggest group of South African companies to come to Russia since COVID-19. Because it's the correct sector with us," Maqetuka said.

The South African Ambassador also told Sputnik that his country's national oil company PetroSA planned to restart dialogue with Russian energy giant Gazprom on investments in the South African energy sector.

"At the time, there were delays, but I can share with you that there is going to be an interaction between Gazprom and PetroSA. Because we were approached by the Gazprom executive, they are looking for investment in the oil and gas in South Africa," the diplomat said.

PetroSA is a state company and holds offshore fields in the Cape Town area in Mossel Bay, Maqetuka said, adding that oil development had started there in the 1970s.

"So Gazprom is interested in investing in any opportunity that they can get, but now we're expecting a meeting between Gazprom and PetroSA. We agree with the executives at PetroSA that the next meeting will have to be in person. Because there have been a number of virtual meetings that the two companies have had since the end of 2021, when this process started," the South African Ambassador said.

Furthermore, South Africa and its neighbors offered numerous opportunities for investment from Russian conglomerates and entrepreneurs, according to the diplomat. Considering that South Africa has already flagged its cooperation interests, it is now "up to the Russian companies to decide in which areas they want to invest," Maqetuka told Sputnik.

Related News

Putin accuses Ukraine of terror tactics, undermining peace talks

Trump, Putin discuss Ukrainian attack on Russian airfield

In another context, the South African diplomat said he expects the maritime drills with China and Russia to be carried out annually, noting that there is not necessary to respond to Washington's remarks and criticism.

"The key thing is the exercise is going to take place," the diplomat said in response to NATO and US comments.

Read more: Read more: S.Africa reviews US unilateral sanctions affecting unrelated sanctions

The South African National Defense Force (SANDF) said on Thursday that about 350 South African army personnel will participate in trilateral maritime drills with Russia and China, MOSI exercise, off the coast of South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal region in the Indian Ocean from February 17-27, noting that the first drills of this kind were conducted in November 2019.

"The question of the reactions, we see those things. We see it as part of the democratic processes. You cannot stop a fourth country criticizing the nature of exercise, you cannot stop them," he pointed out, stressing that his country's interests are above all foreign opinions.

The exercises aim to showcase the naval capabilities of the three nations, he added, noting that it is yet undecided when the next drills will take place.

"But looking at the track record already now from 2019, it is an ongoing annual event. And I am expecting that all chances are that even in 2024 there will be another exercise," he told Sputnik.

Cape Town recently took on the mantle of the leadership of the BRICS, a grouping comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said, as quoted by Sputnik on January 19, that the BRICS club of emerging economies seeks to discover a way of bypassing the dollar to create a fairer payment system that would not be skewed toward wealthy countries.

Pandor also said earlier that South Africa is calling on the United States to review its unilateral sanctions due to their impact on unrelated countries.

"We have always been concerned at the fact that there is a dominance of the dollar and that we do need to look at an alternative," he added.

Read more: South Africa ANC party calls for more Global South inclusion in BRICS

It's worth noting that South African Defense Minister Thandi Modise revealed earlier this month that Washington is exerting increased pressure on African nations due to their relations with Russia.

  • Russia
  • South Africa
  • Eurasian Economic Union
  • China

Most Read

Lebanon's PM Nawaf Salam meets with US envoy Morgan Ortagus in Beirut on April 5, 2025 (Dalati Nohra via AP)AP)

Morgan Ortagus to exit US role in Lebanon amid policy shift

  • Politics
  • 1 Jun 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025
It may well be due to the longstanding relationship between MI6 and HTS, via Inter Mediate, that Britain was the first Western country to recognise their assumption of government in Syria. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

How MI6 helped HTS seize Syria

  • Opinion
  • 31 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Patrice Lumumba: The national hero of the DR Congo
Politics

Patrice Lumumba: The national hero of the DR Congo

A Palestinian woman mourns as she embraces the body of her daughter Mayar Abu Odeh, 8, who was killed in an Israeli army strike on Gaza. at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP)
Politics

French port workers block arms shipment to 'Israel' amid Gaza genocide

AP
Politics

Shas party backs Knesset dissolution, Netanyahu's coalition at risk

The head of the Council of Ministers, Dr. Nawaf Salam, received a delegation from the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc at the Grand Serail.  (@grandserail)
Politics

Hezbollah bloc, PM Salam discuss reconstruction, national unity

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS