By Levy Masiteng
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has concluded his working visit China, which was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and economic cooperation between Pretoria and Beijing.
During the trip, which started on Monday, Mashatile participated in the third China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, where he officially launched the South African National Pavilion.
According to the Presidency, the pavilion showcased over 30 South African entities from various sectors which included agro-processing, electronics and creative industries.
Mashatile said this demonstrated South Africa’s importance as a trading partner to China and reinforced its role as a key gateway to Sub-Saharan Africa for trade, investment and industrial cooperation.
“The opening of the 2025 South African National Pavilion is a focused response to resolutions made at the FOCAC (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation) in Beijing in 2024,” he said.
“This demonstrates how South Africa is an important trade partner to China.”
During a bilateral meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, Mashatile explained that they discussed strengthening existing cooperation.
Zheng expressed confidence in the South African government and reiterated China’s support for South Africa’s Presidency of the G20.
“We appreciate China’s longstanding partnership and look forward to continued cooperation,” said Mashatile.
“We extend an invitation to Vice President Zheng to visit South Africa to co-chair the 9th South Africa-China Bi-National Commission at a mutually agreeable date early in 2026.”
To strengthen cooperation, he also met major Chinese institutions, including the China State Construction Engineering Corporation and the Beijing Automotive International Corporation.
Mashatile also engaged with the South-Africa China Business Forum.
“The visit was a significant step in advancing economic cooperation between South Africa and China, with a focus on showcasing investable projects, enhancing bilateral collaboration on clean technologies, and promoting trade and investment cooperation,” he said.
INSIDE POLITICS