Pretoria - Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane has on Tuesday left for China where she is expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the provincial government of Chongqing.
The provincial government said it was hoping to learn from China as South Africa plans to roll-out massive infrastructure projects in line with the priorities of the national government as outlined by President Jacob Zuma in his State of the Province Address.
She is expected to sign the MoU with the Mayor of Chongqing Municipal Government, Huang Qifan, on Thursday.
A high-powered delegation from Gauteng will accompany the Premier including, among others, top government officials and Executive Mayors from Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.
Gauteng Head for the Department of Economic Development Khulu Radebe said the visit was aimed at concluding an agreement between Gauteng and Chongqing.
"As a developing economy, the Gauteng province is hoping to learn a lot from Chongqing. They are leaders in the manufacturing sector," said Radebe.
He said the MoU was intended to boost Gauteng's economic infrastructure, green economy and skills transfer, amongst other things.
"We are also hoping to attract more Chinese investors to Gauteng. As soon as Mokonyane signs the MoU, residents of Gauteng can look forward to projects that will create jobs and boost Gauteng's growth to maintain the province's status as an economic hub of South Africa," he said.
Tshwane Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa, who is also part of the delegation, said as mayors of Gauteng Metros, they were grateful that the Premier invited them to be part of the partnership.
"This partnership is significant in many levels. Our people's lives will improve because after this partnership is sealed, we will see a massive roll-out of infrastructure projects. Already in Tshwane, we have a number of flagship projects in the pipeline including the construction of the Tshwane International Conference Centre and Rainbow Junction, amongst others," said Ramokgopa.
Mokonyane is also expected to visit Chongqing's Urban Planning Gallery and a Rail Transit Manufacturing Company on Wednesday. She will also address the Chongqing-Gauteng Economic and Trade Seminar.
