South African ambassador on 2013 BRICS summit (2)

People's Daily Online: There are only 3 months left before the summit, what kind of preparation has been done on the South African side?

Ambassador Matjila: What can be sure is the summit is going to be held in Durban, it is a beautiful costal port. We prepared five hotels, each BRICS country will stay in a hotel, and we also arrange the situation where the leaders can have bilateral discussion.

We are also going to hold a cultural show which contains mainly BRICS cultures on March 26. 2013. To make sure we can all watch the beautiful cultural talent of the BRICS countries. We also hope some of the leaders can come that day. I think we’ve prepared most advances. Before summit, there are some activists, such like academic forum, business workshop for finance ministers, trade ministers. I think it’s going to be a great experience in managing big events and we try to contribute the harmony in the world. This is a major event held by Africa. We are looking for the five countries leaders to come the summit in the year of euro crisis, global financial crisis. When this five country leaders meet, I believe this is going to be of significance to the whole world.

People's Daily Online: What’s your view of the status of South Africa in the whole Africa?

Ambassador Matjila: We are African, We are in African continent. We are always looking at our neighbors in the continent. We have very strong African inclination, we believe in united integrated peaceful and prosperous Africa. Now that we can belong to groups like BRICS, we will try to raise voices of other African countries and try to help them to set up the dialogs. We believe it is the right thing to do. The BRICS countries need very strong prospects of Africa. Additionally, China, India, Russia, Brazil can assist Africa, as they have no colonial history, they give us inspiration. What they want to do is solidarity, is friendship and corporate as developing countries.

People's Daily Online: Since South Africa has become part of the BRICS system for two years, what do you think this system has brought to South Africa?

Ambassador Matjila: It has been a very good experience for South Africa. In the last three years, we have developed a sense of mutual understanding among the countries. I can see the sense of mutual respects. What is also encouraging is that these countries have been saying what Africa has been saying: we must reform the global system of governance, World Bank and IMF must be reformed to reflect the new reality. Secondly, respect other countries' policies. Allowing people to develop the way they want is very appealing to Africa. Thirdly, it is time for us to think of trading among ourselves. It is a pioneering thinking, issues of waking to increase trade to share technology among ourselves. We have similar challenges, like new population and new scientific development. There’s so much we can learn from each other. It is a fresh experience to be in the BRICS project.

People's Daily Online: How do you evaluate trade between China and South Africa? And what do you think of the Western saying of “Chinese colonialism in Africa”

Ambassador Matjila: That's not true. We know what colonialism is. African people have long known China. China is an old friend of Africa. China does things based on respect, solidarity and equality. Secondly, when we have a dialog, we go for the formula, where you give I give, we respect mutual. Thirdly, China does not interfere how African want to run their governments. I think the West is not satisfied that Africa is now looking at China, we learn from China. There are so much in common between China and developing countries. We have similar challenges. It is easier to learn. And I think the West should get used to this new change.

The first time I came to China is 1988, it was not developed like now, and China has the ability to do more things. 15 years ago we normalize our relationship with China. The two way trade has come to 49 to 50 billion dollars. There's a huge explosion in many ways in 15 years.

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