Former President Thabo Mbeki says when countries pursue their national interests, they should respect sovereignty and the United Nations (UN) Charter.

Engaging with the students at UNISA in Pretoria, on local and pertinent global issues, Mbeki says the United States (US) as much as they want to be dominant globally, also realise the importance of relations with other countries.

This after the US imposed high tariffs on other countries when they export their goods to America.

Mbeki says there is a new world order. “Since everybody in the world pursues their own interest why should the United Stated not pursue their own interest? Actually it had been a correct position taken by Secretary of State Rubio who was to say we pursue each one of those countries, we pursue our own interests in the context of a particular global setting that yes indeed as each one of our countries must pursue their interests, at least let’s be guided by these three things, respect for multipolarity, multilateralism, particularly the exercise to the UN.”

Mbeki backs SA government’s negotiations with US: