China and South
Africa’s trading
relationship has
become increasingly
strategic as the two presidents
– Jacob Zuma and Xi Jinping
respectively – have stepped up
their interaction and pushed the
bilateral trade agenda between
the two countries.
“Bilateral trade, at US$60.3
billion in 2014, is at its highest
level in history, with South
Africa leading as China’s top
partner in Africa,” said China’s
ambassador to South Africa,
Tian Xuejun.
According to him, South
Africa is also China’s largest
investment destination on
the African continent. “With
the Five-to-Ten year Strategic
Programme for Cooperation
having been signed by our two
governments in December
last year – which considerably
boosted trade between the two
countries – I am confident of
even further investment and
improved trade relations for the
year ahead,” said Xuejun.
He told FTW that South
Africa’s political stability and
established infrastructure,
coupled with government
efforts to make it an attractive
investment destination, meant
that the country was still seen
as a good gateway from which
Chinese companies could
launch their African expansion
plans.
“South Africa is one of the
leading countries in the North-
South Corridor (NSC) project
and it is continually investing
in new infrastructure,” said
Xuejun.
To further boost trade, he
added that it was important for
Chinese companies who wanted
to trade with and/or invest in
South Africa (and vice versa) to
better understand the realities
of both countries’ political and
social situations – including
policies and laws.
“Secondly, they need to find
the right local partners and
thirdly, business needs to be
conducted in a way that puts
mutual growth and development
at the forefront of negotiations,”
commented Xuejun.
INSERT & CAPTION
Bilateral trade is at
its highest level in
history.
– Tian Xuejun
