From March 25 to 28, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) led a delegation of Chinese entrepreneurs to South Africa. The visit aimed to leverage China’s upcoming implementation of zero-tariff treatment on 100% of tariff lines for Africa as an opportunity to enhance practical economic and trade cooperation between China and South Africa, and to turn China’s vast market into a major opportunity for Africa.
During the visit, the CCPIT and South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition jointly hosted the China-South Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in Cape Town. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng attended the Forum and delivered a speech. CCPIT Chairman Ren Hongbin presided over the opening ceremony, which also featured addresses by South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Alexandra Abrahams. More than 350 representatives from government departments and business communities of the two countries participated in the Forum, engaging in exchanges and discussions on cooperation in areas such as agriculture, manufacturing, energy and minerals, finance, automotive, and logistics. A number of cooperation intentions were reached during the event.
The delegation also visited key local industrial parks for research and met with the Western Cape’s Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency to gain insights into the local business environment and investment opportunities, laying the groundwork for future trade and investment cooperation between enterprises of the two countries.
