By Nosihle Shelembe
Beijing, China - As part of ongoing efforts to improve the lives of South Africans, China has committed to assist the country in tackling poverty.
This commitment was revealed in a joint statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the occasion of President Ramaphosa’s State Visit to the People’s Republic of China.
“China is committed to sharing with South Africa its experience in poverty alleviation and rural revitalisation; in building poverty alleviation model villages and offering support for South Africa's coordinated urban and rural development,” the statement said on Monday.
During the State Visit, the two countries recommitted to working together towards building a high-quality China-South Africa community, with a shared future.
“To carry forward the friendship, consolidate mutual trust, expand cooperation and enhance coordination, the two Heads of State agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship to an All-round Strategic Cooperative Partnership in a New Era, underpinned by strong political ties and focused on a prosperous future with balanced trade, and accelerated transformative economic growth,” the statement said.
Improving lives
China expressed its firm support of national unity and the path of economic and social development that South Africa has chosen. It also said it respects efforts by the South African government to safeguard its national interests to improve the lives of all South Africans.
“The two sides agreed to work on strengthening cooperation and synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan and to continue implementing the 10 Years Strategic Programme of Cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa (2020-2029), as a blueprint towards more substantive outcomes on priority political and socio-economic issues between the two sides.
“The two sides agreed to fully leverage the role of mechanisms such as the China-South Africa Joint Working Group (JWG) and the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETC) to further expand economic and trade ties by improving the current trade structure, increasing market access and the export of value-added goods from South Africa,” the statement said.
Trade and investment
China is South Africa's largest trading partner globally, while South Africa is China’s number one trading partner in Africa. Total bilateral trade grew from R614 billion in 2022 to R692 billion in 2023.
“The two sides encouraged the respective business communities to enhance new two-way investments and increase their manufacturing bases within the proximity of the relevant source of raw materials to enable the transfer of skills technology and job creation.
“The two sides committed to providing a stable, fair and enabling business environment for companies from both sides and to ensure the safety and legitimate rights and interests of the relevant personnel, projects and institutions.
“The two sides encouraged mutual visits by economic and trade delegations, including co-hosting the New Energy Investment Conferences with South Africa and holding the Jobs Fair of Chinese-invested Enterprises in South Africa to boost local employment and improve people’s lives,” the statement said.
READ | President calls for narrowing of SA, China trade deficit
Deepening cooperation
The two sides agreed that promoting modernisation is the joint goal in building a high-level South Africa-China community, with a shared future.
“The two sides will deepen cooperation in traditional fields such as agriculture, health, medical sciences and infrastructure development. However, they will further seize opportunities presented by the new scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, focusing on key areas such as the digital economy, new energies and artificial intelligence, boost cooperation on quality productive forces, and further expand mutually beneficial cooperation in renewable energy, energy storage and power transmission and distribution,” the statement said.
The two sides further agreed to continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the areas of culture, women, health, youth, education, sport, media, tourism and other people-to-people cooperation fields.
As part of the State Visit, the two Presidents jointly witnessed the signing of several bilateral cooperation instruments in the following areas:
• Cooperation of the Application of BeiDou Navigation Satellite System;
• Sustainable Housing and Human Settlements Development;
• Deepening Bilateral Trade Cooperation;
• Cultural Heritage;
• Cooperation in Prevention and Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease;
• Inspection, Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements for Dairy Products Exported from the Republic of South Africa to the People’s Republic of China; and the Protocol on Greasy Wool. -SAnews.gov.za
