President Cyril Ramaphosa will undertake a State Visit to the People’s Republic of China this week where he will also participate at the Forum on China – Africa Cooperation Summit (FOCAC).

The State Visit, which comes at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the FOCAC Summit will take place in Beijing from 2 – 5 September 2024.

President Ramaphosa is expected to be flanked by Cabinet Ministers from portfolios including International Relations and Cooperation; Science, Technology and Innovation; Human Settlements; Small Business Development; Presidency; Trade, Industry and Competition; Electricity and Energy; Public Works and Infrastructure; Higher Education and Agriculture.

The delegation will also include the Premier of the Eastern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane and Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba as well as senior government officials.

President Ramaphosa hosted President Xi Jinping on his fourth State Visit to South Africa in August 2023 in Tshwane, cementing 25 years of strong bonds of friendshi
p and cooperation the two countries have enjoyed since establishing formal diplomatic relations.

‘China is South Africa’s largest trading partner globally, while South Africa is China’s number one trading partner in Africa. Total bilateral trade grew from R614 billion in 2022 to R692 billion in 2023,’ the Presidency said in a statement.

On Monday, President Ramaphosa’s State Visit to China officially commences with a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People.

Ahead of the bilateral engagement, the President will lay a wreath at the Monument to the People’s Heroes in Tiananmen Square in honour of Chinese revolutionaries.

South Africa and China’s bilateral relations are maintained at the level of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), underpinned by a Ten-Year Strategic Programme of Cooperation (2020 – 2029).

‘South Africa and China will sign agreements that are aimed at enhancing economic cooperation and the implementation of technical cooperation, particularly in the fields of human settleme
nts, agriculture and science and technology.

‘On Tuesday, 3 September 2024, President Ramaphosa will champion South Africa’s economic diplomacy with China by visiting Shenzhen, an economic technology hub in the Guangdong Province to interact with industry leaders and tour the headquarters of two tech companies as part of the bilateral business programme of the State Visit,’ the Presidency said.

On Wednesday, President Ramaphosa will address the South Africa – China Business Forum on the margins of the FOCAC in Beijing.

On Thursday, the President will participate in the FOCAC Summit held under the theme ‘Joining Hands to Advance Modernisation and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future’.

‘The President will co- chair, with the Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Mr Wang Huning, the High-Level Panel Seminar on Accompanying Africa in Industrialisation, Agricultural Modernisation and Green Development to Embark on the path to Modernisation,’ the Presidenc
y said.

South Africa’s participation in FOCAC is driven by a constant advancement of Africa’s position on development as outlined by the African Union’s Agenda 2063: The Africa we Want and its related Flagship Programmes.

A Declaration and Action Plan (2025-2027) will be issued at the conclusion of the 2024 FOCAC Summit.

Source: South African Government News Agency