On March 5, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met with Ebrahim Patel, South African Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition in Beijing. They exchanged views ways to implement the consensus of the two leaders and deepen bilateral economic and trade cooperation. The meeting was joined by Tang Wenhong, Assistant Minister of Commerce, and Siyabonga Cwele, South African Ambassador to China.

Minister Wang Wentao said that during his visit to South Africa in August 2023, President Xi Jinping and President Cyril Ramaphosa reached agreement on a range of important issues, pointing the way forward for bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Under the strategic guidance of the two Presidents, China and South Africa have delivered fruitful economic and trade cooperation, with stable and more efficient bilateral trade, and improved trade structure. Wang expressed China’s willingness to work with South Africa to create more convenient conditions for trade and investment cooperation and the sustained and sound development of bilateral economic and trade relations.

Minister Patel said that China is an important economic and trading partner of South Africa. South Africa attaches great importance to economic and trade cooperation with China, hopes to expand exports of industrial and agricultural products to China, and welcomes Chinese investment. He also expressed interest in expanding cooperation in new energy vehicles, batteries and other fields. He said that South Africa will continue to provide convenience and support to Chinese enterprises to meet their needs as they develop in South Africa.

(All information published on this website is authentic in Chinese. English is provided for reference only.)