The potential for Sino South economic and trade cooperation is enormous

The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade recently led a delegation of Chinese entrepreneurs to visit South Africa, promoting the deep implementation of the important consensus between the two heads of state by the business communities of China and South Africa. Taking the opportunity of upgrading China South relations from a comprehensive strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era, we will strengthen communication and exchanges, and deepen practical cooperation. The delegation of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade held a series of activities, including the China South Africa Economic and Trade Forum and the 3rd China International Supply Chain Promotion Expo Promotion Conference, as well as a joint enterprise docking meeting with the African National Congress (ANC) Economic Development Forum in South Africa. During the event, Economic Daily reporters interviewed Gwynn Ramohampa, the Chief Secretary of the African National Congress, who attended the event, focusing on topics such as the economic and trade relations between China and South Africa.

Gwen Ramohupa recalled her pleasant experience and fruitful achievements in leading the South African entrepreneurs delegation to attend the first China Chain Expo in December 2023, and in attending the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation with the South African delegation in September 2024, and said she looked forward to attending the third Chain Expo to be held in Beijing in July this year. Gwen Ramohampa stated that both Africa and China, including South Africa, are promoting economic growth and improving people's livelihoods through their respective modernization paths. Mechanisms such as the Chain Expo and the Forum on China Africa Cooperation highlight the theme of China joining hands with other countries to promote modernization, which is of great significance to both Africa and China. Over the years, China and Africa have implemented a large number of mutually beneficial cooperation projects under the framework of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation and achieved fruitful results. South China should further strengthen pragmatic cooperation in various fields under the framework of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation and bilateral cooperation, and promote South China economic and trade relations to new heights.

Gwynn Ramohampa pointed out that the heads of state of South China and China have reached important consensus on strengthening South China economic and trade relations during their mutual visits and meetings. Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both sides, South China economic and trade cooperation has developed well in recent years and made tremendous progress. Both South China and China have benefited from mutual economic and trade cooperation, including imports, exports, and investments. In the future, both sides need to work harder to improve and enhance their economic and trade relations, including highlighting and strengthening mutually beneficial relationships. For South Africa, it is necessary to better position its industrial and trade advantages in its economic and trade relations with China, including launching and expanding advantageous export products, promoting partnerships with China in industrial and trade development, and jointly committed to maintaining supply chain stability and security. I hope Chinese companies can pay more attention to key industries and fields in South Africa in bilateral economic and trade relations, including infrastructure, energy, agriculture, mining, and regional economic and social development.

Gwen Ramohampa stated that the business environment in South Africa has advantages and attractiveness for Chinese companies and their investments. South Africa has a well-established financial system that provides investors with a safe and favorable investment environment in the financial sector. The South African government is committed to and implementing one-stop services, especially in licensing and other areas, aimed at meeting the diverse needs of various investors and creating a favorable investment environment. The South African government is also establishing relevant institutions aimed at promoting industrial and trade development, and improving related services. For Chinese companies that want to engage in economic and trade cooperation with South Africa, considering that local companies in South Africa have a better understanding of the investment environment in South Africa, it is important for Chinese companies to choose and strengthen cooperation with them. South Africa encourages companies from both South and China to highlight and strengthen mutually beneficial relationships in economic and trade cooperation, including encouraging South African companies to strengthen and expand their exports of advantageous products to China, in order to promote and enhance South China economic and trade cooperation.

Gwen Ramohampa also stated that there is enormous potential for South China to work together to promote economic and trade cooperation. We hope that the business communities of South Africa and China can strengthen exchanges and cooperation, promote the export of South African advantageous products to China, encourage South African enterprises to participate in the Chain Expo and deepen cooperation in the industrial and supply chains of both sides, and welcome Chinese enterprises to invest in South Africa. Gwen Ramohampa said, 'If South Africa can participate more in the supply chain of many participating companies at the Chain Expo, the Expo will unleash greater economic potential.'. (Yang Haiquan, Economic Daily reporter stationed in Pretoria)