Promoting China South Africa relations towards higher quality, broader fields, and deeper levels

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 Africa has developed comprehensively and deeply, achieving a significant leap from partnership to strategic partnership and then to comprehensive strategic partnership. The political mutual trust between the two countries has been continuously strengthened, practical cooperation has been solidly promoted, cultural and cultural exchanges have been rich and colorful, and strategic cooperation has continued to deepen, bringing tangible benefits to the two countries and the vast African people.
Strengthen strategic coordination and deepen economic and trade exchanges
"China is willing to strengthen exchanges of experience in governance and administration with South Africa, support South Africa in exploring a modernization path that suits its own national conditions, strengthen the docking of the the Belt and Road initiative with the South African Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, deepen cooperation in trade, investment, energy and other fields, promote the implementation of the outcomes of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation in South Africa, support Chinese enterprises to invest and start business in South Africa, and expand the import of high-quality products from South Africa." In November 2022,  
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, the China South Africa Enterprise Trade Docking Conference, the China Africa Economic and Trade Expo, the Canton Fair, and the China South Africa International Import and Export Fair, promote smooth trade between China and South Africa, and continuously improve and upgrade 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 Africa reached 28.25 billion US dollars, an increase of 11.7% year-on-year.
In May of 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 Sino South agricultural product trade, 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 local farmers' income.
South Africa is one of the largest investment destinations for China in Africa, and investment cooperation between the two sides has steadily expanded in recent years. Data shows that as of the end of June 2023, China's stock of various investments in South Africa is approximately $10 billion. 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 (approximately 800 million US dollars).

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 fields such as automobiles 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 continue to optimize its business environment and welcome Chinese enterprises 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
Significant progress has been made in technical cooperation between the two sides in various fields, and cooperation in cutting-edge technology and industrial applications has blossomed in multiple areas. The breakthroughs made by scientists from China and South Africa in the field of science and technology have attracted the attention of the global scientific and technological community, enriching the connotation of China South comprehensive strategic partnership and becoming a new growth point for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries,  
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 station site in the small town of Kanafen in the North Cape Province. This is a major scientific research project involving scientists from multiple countries, including China, and also a key scientific and technological cooperation project between China and South Africa. South African Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Innovation, Brad Enzimandi, 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 Ramafosa 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; Laying optical fibers and cables in South Africa, and investing in multiple international submarine cables to promote the development of the South African internet industry; 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 the Zhongguancun South Africa Science and Technology Park to the establishment of the Central South National Joint Research Center for Mineral Resource Development and Utilization, from holding 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 science and technology innovation exchange and cooperation platform, 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 Scientific 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
Strengthen talent exchange and enhance people-to-people communication
In recent years, China and South Africa have taken measures such as hosting each other's National Year and officially launching the China South high-level cultural exchange mechanism, which has brought the spiritual distance between the two peoples closer, enhanced mutual understanding and friendship. The exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in education, culture, technology, health, youth, women and other fields have been continuously expanding. In July 2018, on the eve of their state visit to South Africa,  
Education cooperation is an important component of Sino South cultural exchange and cooperation. From the China Africa (South) Vocational Education Cooperation Alliance to the joint construction of the Luban Workshop, China South actively carries 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 Confucius Classrooms, and has incorporated Chinese into its national education system. The Confucius Institute at Durban Institute of Technology, 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", "Chinese+E-commerce", "Chinese+Innovation and Entrepreneurship", and "Chinese+South African Tour Guide". They have cultivated a number of "Chinese+" professional talents, and many South African youth have entered Chinese enterprises to work, providing new employment options.
At Nanzhong Enterprise, we fully leverage our own advantages, fulfill our social responsibilities, and actively provide skill training for local employees. Since 2015, State Grid Corporation of China has invited local power and energy institutions and enterprise employees from South Africa to participate in power and energy training in China, covering renewable energy, cross-border grid interconnection, and grid operation; Longyuan South Africa hired a professional consulting company to develop a training plan, including high-altitude operations, high-voltage 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
Zun Gu, Deputy Director General of the South African Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Innovation, stated that China shares vocational education experience 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 enormous opportunities of digital transformation and jointly implement more bilateral and multilateral vocational education cooperation projects, promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges and people-to-people communication between Africa and China.
Critan 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, and the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries will achieve greater development, making new and greater contributions to building a new era of China Africa community with a shared future and a community with a shared future for mankind.