ISLAMABAD 

China has reassured South Africa that Beijing will remain a "trustworthy and reliable" friend and partner, offering assistance within its capacity, as tensions between Washington and Pretoria persist.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed this message to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers' summit in Johannesburg on Thursday, where they discussed bilateral issues, according to the Chinese state-run CGTN.

Wang expressed Beijing’s support for South Africa in carrying out its responsibilities as the G20 presidency, emphasizing the importance of placing development at the core of the international agenda and amplifying the voice of the Global South.

"China and South Africa have always understood and supported each other, carrying out close exchanges, communication and coordination, which demonstrates the high level of bilateral relations," the Chinese foreign minister stated.

Ramaphosa expressed gratitude for China’s steadfast support in South Africa’s struggle for national independence and its valuable contributions to the country’s development.

He reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to its relationship with Beijing, saying: "South Africa is willing to deepen practical cooperation in various areas with China and to advance the all-round strategic cooperative partnership between South Africa and China."

The meeting took place as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio opted to skip the G20 foreign ministers' gathering in Johannesburg.

Rubio cited his absence as a response to the Trump administration’s decision to halt aid to South Africa over its new land appropriation law and its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

Pretoria, however, has clarified that the new land law does not discriminate.

Earlier this week, South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola stated that the US had not responded to Pretoria’s request for discussions following Trump's decision.