Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile convened in Beijing on Thursday to bolster bilateral ties, following last year's elevation of relations to an all-round strategic cooperative partnership. The meeting underscored both nations' commitment to advancing shared economic and political goals amid shifting global dynamics.
Han emphasized the importance of implementing key agreements between Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, particularly in deepening political trust and enhancing high-quality cooperation. "Our partnership serves as a model for South-South collaboration," Han stated, highlighting progress in trade, infrastructure, and technology exchanges.
Mashatile reaffirmed South Africa's adherence to the one-China policy and praised the "strong momentum" of bilateral trade, which reached $56.8 billion in 2023. He expressed readiness to expand collaboration in renewable energy, mining, and digital innovation, aligning with both countries' modernization agendas.
The dialogue comes as China remains Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, with South Africa positioned as a gateway for Chinese investments across the continent. Analysts note the partnership could influence supply chain resilience in critical minerals and green technology sectors.
