China and South Africa Strengthen Global-South Voice at Pretoria Human-Rights Seminar
South Africa and China have taken another decisive step in strengthening their strategic partnership, hosting the 2025 China–South Africa Seminar on Human Rights in Pretoria on 4 December 2025. The gathering brought together senior government officials, scholars, diplomats and civil society representatives under the theme: “Multilateralism and the Realisation of the Right to Development.”
The seminar, co-hosted by South Africa’s Centre for Human Rights and China’s Human Rights Development Foundation, aimed to advance cooperation on shared development goals while promoting a global human-rights approach rooted in fairness, mutual respect and South–South solidarity.
A Meeting Point for Shared Global-South Perspectives
Delegates from both countries emphasised that modern human-rights dialogue can no longer be separated from economic realities. Speakers highlighted that poverty reduction, access to education, jobs, infrastructure, healthcare and digital inclusion are essential to achieving genuine human dignity.
Representatives from China outlined how the country’s poverty-alleviation programmes and development-first approach offer practical lessons for emerging economies. South African participants similarly noted that socio-economic transformation, equality, and addressing historical injustices remain central to the country’s constitutional vision.
Both sides agreed that the current global human-rights discourse is often dominated by Western perspectives, leaving developing nations without an adequate platform to articulate their priorities. The Pretoria seminar therefore served as an important mechanism to promote multilateral dialogue and context-sensitive approaches to rights, development and global governance.
Momentum for Stronger South–South Collaboration
The seminar reinforced long-standing ties between the two BRICS partners, coming soon after a series of high-level bilateral engagements on governance, trade, infrastructure and education. Discussions highlighted opportunities for deeper cooperation in:
- sustainable development initiatives
- climate-change adaptation
- digital transformation and skills training
- poverty reduction and rural development
- capacity-building in governance and public administration
Delegates noted that human-rights progress is often accelerated when matched with economic partnerships, people-to-people exchanges and technological cooperation, areas where China and South Africa already share strong foundations.
Why This Matters
At a time when global inequality is widening, and geopolitical tensions are rising, the Pretoria seminar showcased how China and South Africa are shaping a new development-focused human-rights narrative, one grounded in mutual respect, economic inclusion and the right of nations to choose their own development paths.
The event also signals China’s continued commitment to Africa’s long-term progress. With both countries championing multilateralism and fair global governance, seminars like this strengthen the voice of the Global South and set the stage for deeper cooperation in 2026 and beyond.