South African Ambassador to China: I Want to Bring Two Things from China toSouth Africa
Beijing, August 30, 2024 – South Africa’s Ambassador to China, Mr. Shengwen Xie, expressed his desire to bring back two key elements from China tohis home country: Chinese culture and the industrious spirit of the Chinese people. In an exclusive interview with China News Service, Ambassador Xie highlighted the growing importance of Sino-African cooperation and the numerous opportunities it presents for both sides.
Ambassador Xie, who has served in his current role for over three years, has traveled extensively across China, visiting provinces like Zhejiang, Hubei, Hunan, Chongqing,and Guizhou. He observed firsthand the robust development of bilateral relations between South Africa and China, marked by frequent high-level exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation.
China has excellent cooperative relationships with African countries, including South Africa, Ambassador Xiestated. He emphasized that mutual respect and equal benefit are the cornerstones of Sino-African relations, devoid of any form of hegemony or power politics. This partnership, built on a foundation of equality and shared prosperity, ensures that both sides reap the rewards of collaboration.
Ambassador Xie highlighted the significance of Sino-African cooperationas a model for South-South cooperation, contributing to a more equitable and inclusive global governance system and world economic order.
The economic partnership between South Africa and China is particularly strong. China has consistently been South Africa’s largest trading partner for the past 15 years, while South Africa has held the position ofChina’s largest trading partner in Africa for the past 14 years. In the first five months of 2024, bilateral trade reached $23.5 billion, with South African exports to China reaching $15.3 billion, a nearly 14% increase year-on-year. South African wines, rooibos tea, and aloe vera gel are particularly popular in China, with Ambassador Xie himself actively promoting these products on online platforms.
China’s continued position as Africa’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years further underscores the strength of this economic partnership.
Ambassador Xie pointedout that the new measures for opening up announced at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China’s Third Plenary Session present exciting opportunities for African countries. The upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing will serve as a crucial platform for deepening cooperation between African nations andChina.
We are delighted to see China expanding its openness in areas like high-tech, healthcare, and finance, Ambassador Xie said. He noted that many South African companies, including Aspen, the largest pharmaceutical company in South Africa, and Naspers, the country’s national media group, have recognized the immensepotential of these opportunities and are eager to participate.
Through initiatives like FOCAC, China’s infrastructure investments in Africa are taking root, with new ports, airports, railways, and roads connecting countries within Africa and facilitating their integration into the global economy. These projects are instrumental in driving industrial transformation across the continent.
The two countries are also collaborating extensively in agricultural modernization, with the establishment of a green channel for African agricultural products to enter the Chinese market, benefiting the livelihoods of rural populations in the least developed African countries.
The partnership between South Africa and China extends to the realms of science, technology, and education, withfar-reaching implications for the future of the African continent. Ambassador Xie emphasized that Africa, with its large population and youthful demographics, presents a unique opportunity for development. By providing access to high-quality education and training, more African youth can become globally competitive workers.
South Africans are deeply interested in Chinese culture,and we have introduced Mandarin as an optional subject in South African primary schools, Ambassador Xie said. He highlighted the growing number of South Africans who are eager to learn Mandarin, deepening their understanding of China and drawing inspiration from its development experience. He expressed his hope that the industrious spirit of the Chinese people would inspire the younger generationin South Africa to pursue education and empower themselves.
Ambassador Xie’s vision for bringing Chinese culture and the industrious spirit of the Chinese people to South Africa reflects the shared aspirations of both nations for a brighter future built on mutual understanding, cooperation, and shared prosperity.
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