Chinese Ambassador to South Africa, Wu Peng, says the “comrades plus brothers” special bond between China and South Africa is growing and that the bilateral relations between the two countries have entered a golden era.
Peng made these remarks following a courtesy call to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday, August 28th.
China is currently South Africa’s largest trading partner and serves as a key source of foreign direct investments (FDI). In 2023, the China-South Africa bilateral trade reached $34 billion, with South African exports totalling $12 billion and imports totalling $22 billion.
In August 2023, the two countries signed a trade agreement on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, allowing South Africa to export Avocadoes to China, and adding to the list of South African-produced agricultural products that have found a valuable market in China.
Wu also stated that China looks forward to hosting Ramaphosa at the upcoming summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
According to the Chinese Ambassador, Ramaphosa expressed gratitude for China’s long-term support for South Africa’s development.
He stated that the new South African government is firmly committed to a friendly policy toward China, and is ready to strengthen cooperation with China in fields such as trade and investment, infrastructure, and energy.
The FOCAC 2024 summit, themed ‘Joining Hands to Advance Modernisation and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future’ will be held in Beijing, China’s capital, from September 4 to 6th.
Heads of State from China and African countries, including the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), HE Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, are expected to attend the Summit.
The Summit will focus on strengthening cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative in line with the African Union Agenda 2063, amongst others.
