TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Negotiations with South Africa on protocols for bilateral ties may be held next year, Yen Chia-liang (顏嘉良), director-general of the Foreign Ministry’s Department of West Asian and African Affairs, said Tuesday.

Yen said at a press conference that South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation requested negotiations in September and proposed holding in-person consultations in November. However, Taiwan suggested rescheduling the talks to January because South Africa was hosting the G20 summit in November.

South Africa’s foreign ministry is considering the proposal, Yen said. The Foreign Ministry will continue to engage with the South African government so bilateral consultations can hopefully be conducted next year based on equality and dignity, he added.

Yen said current discussions are about the venue and the rank of officials attending. The two sides have yet to reach a consensus, he said.

South Africa designated the Taipei Liaison Offices in Pretoria and Cape Town as “Taipei Commercial Offices” in July, citing UN Resolution 2758 and its “one China” policy as justification. It also reiterated its request that the Pretoria office be moved to Johannesburg.

South Africa previously directed Taiwan to move the Pretoria office to Johannesburg in March, but Taiwan refused.