Promoting China South Africa relations towards higher quality, broader areas, and deeper levels. South Africa | China | Relations

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the relationship between China and South Korea has comprehensively and deeply developed, achieving a significant leap from partnership to strategic partnership and then to comprehensive strategic partnership. The political mutual trust between the two countries continues to strengthen, pragmatic cooperation is solidly promoted, cultural exchanges are rich and colorful, and strategic cooperation continues to deepen, bringing tangible benefits to China and South Africa as well as the vast African people.

Strengthening strategic docking and deepening economic and trade exchanges

South Africa is the first African country to sign the Memorandum of Understanding on the Belt and Road Cooperation with China. A series of bilateral and multilateral economic and trade cooperation mechanisms, including the China South Africa Economic and Trade Joint Commission, China South Africa Enterprise Trade Matchmaking Conference, China Africa Economic and Trade Expo, Canton Fair, and China International Import Expo, promote smooth trade between China and South Africa, and continuously improve the quality and upgrading of bilateral economic and trade cooperation. China has remained the largest trading partner of South Africa for 14 consecutive years, and South Africa has become China's largest trading partner in Africa for 13 consecutive years. In the first half of this year, the trade volume between China and South China reached 28.25 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 11.7%.

In May this year, the first ship of 53000 tons of feed corn imported from South Africa arrived in China, and after strict inspection and quarantine, it was supplied to domestic feed enterprises. This is another successful attempt in the trade of Central South African agricultural products, following the entry of South African specialty agricultural products such as wine and citrus into the Chinese market. While providing diversified material choices for Chinese customers, it promotes the development of South African agriculture and increases the income of local farmers.

South Africa is one of the largest investment destinations for China in Africa, and in recent years, investment cooperation between the two sides has steadily expanded. Data shows that as of the end of June 2023, China's stock of various investments in South Africa is approximately 10 billion US dollars. In April of this year, China actively responded to South Africa's "New Investment Initiative" and organized more than 60 enterprises to participate in the 5th South African Investment Conference, announcing a new investment intention of nearly 15 billion rand.

In August of this year, at the China South Africa Enterprise Trade Matchmaking Conference, the two companies signed multiple trade agreements with a total amount of nearly 2.2 billion US dollars. Stavros Nikolai, a member of the South African Council of the BRICS Business Council, stated that this trade docking meeting will bring new opportunities to the business communities of South and China. South Africa will export mineral and agricultural products to China and deepen extensive cooperation between the two sides in areas such as automotive and agricultural product processing.

South African Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Patel, stated that Chinese enterprises have played a positive role in South Africa's economic and social development, and South Africa regards China as its most important economic and trade partner. South Africa will continuously optimize its business environment and welcome Chinese companies to seize the new opportunities brought by the African continent's free trade zone to conduct more trade and investment cooperation in South Africa. South Africa hopes to further expand cooperation between the two countries in the new energy vehicle industry chain.

Consolidate technological innovation and expand emerging fields

At the end of 2022, China's participation in the construction of the world's largest radio telescope - the square kilometer array radio telescope - began construction at the South African site in the small town of Kanafun, North Cape Province. This is a major scientific research project involving scientists from multiple countries, including China, and also a key science and technology cooperation project between China and South Korea. South African Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Innovation, Brad Nzimandi, stated that China's participation is crucial for the square kilometer array radio telescope project. We need to further strengthen cooperation with China in science, technology, and innovation.

In July of this year, Huawei South Africa Innovation Center was officially launched, which will continue to provide support for South African partners, application developers, and small and medium-sized enterprises in innovation in fields such as 5G, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. President Ramaphosa stated at the launch ceremony that the establishment of Huawei South Africa Innovation Center is very in line with the South African government's policy focus on using digital technology to promote economic development.

Support South Africa in building Africa's first 5G commercial network and 5G laboratory; Lay optical fiber and optical cable in South Africa, and invest in several international submarine cables to promote the development of the Internet industry in South Africa; Collaborating with major communication operators in South Africa to provide fast and stable communication services to over 30 million South Africans

From the establishment of Zhongguancun South Africa Science and Technology Park to the establishment of the Central South National Joint Research Center for Mineral Resources Development and Utilization, from hosting the Central South Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum to jointly implementing the "China Africa Digital Innovation Partnership Plan"... China and a large number of African countries, including South Africa, jointly build a platform for scientific and technological innovation exchange and cooperation, expand new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote sustainable economic and social development.

Patrick Krapi, CEO of the Technology Innovation Agency of the South African Ministry of Higher Education and Science Innovation, said, "The South China Africa China relationship is a long-term partnership, and cooperation with China has laid a solid foundation for Africa in science, technology, and innovation."

Strengthening talent exchange and enhancing people to people communication

Education cooperation is an important component of China South cultural exchange and cooperation. From the China Africa Vocational Education Cooperation Alliance to the joint construction of the Luban Workshop, China and South Africa actively carry out vocational education cooperation and experience exchange, helping South Africans master vocational skills and achieve sustainable development.

South Africa is the African country with the most Confucius Institutes and classrooms, and has incorporated Chinese into its national education system. The Confucius Institute at Durban Institute of Technology in South Africa and the Confucius Classroom at the South African Center for Chinese Culture and International Education Exchange have collaborated with Chinese enterprises and industry associations to carry out a series of cooperation projects such as "Chinese+Fungus Grass", "Chinese+E-commerce", "Chinese+Innovation and Entrepreneurship", and "Chinese+South African Tour Guide", cultivating a group of "Chinese+" professional talents. Many South African youth have entered Chinese enterprises to work and have new employment options.

Fully leverage its own advantages, fulfill social responsibilities, and actively provide skill training for local employees in Nanzhong Enterprises. Since 2015, State Grid Corporation of China has invited local South African power and energy institutions and enterprise employees to participate in power and energy training in China, covering topics such as renewable energy, cross-border grid interconnection, and grid operation; Longyuan South Africa Company has hired a professional consulting company to develop a training plan, including high-altitude operations, high-pressure operations, first aid, and other contents; Huawei has established a training center to provide training for local employees and employees of the five major operators in South Africa. It has trained nearly 20000 local information technology talents in total

Zungu, Deputy Director General of the South African Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Innovation, stated that China shares vocational education experiences and resources with South Africa, promotes the development of vocational education in South Africa, and helps South Africa cultivate a group of technical and skilled talents. We hope that both sides can take advantage of the huge opportunity of digital transformation to jointly implement more bilateral and multilateral vocational education cooperation projects, promote cultural exchanges and people to people exchanges between Africa and China.

Kristan Bahana, editor in chief of South African Foreign Affairs magazine, stated that South Africa's cooperation with China "provides a model for cooperation among developing countries.".

I believe that under the joint leadership of the two heads of state, China and South Africa will work together to work together for development and revitalization. The comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries will achieve greater development and make new and greater contributions to the construction of a new era of China Africa community with a shared future and a community with a shared future for mankind.