Ramaphosa is in China on his second state visit at the invitation of His Excellency President Xi Jinping.

Ramaphosa hosted President Xi on his fourth state visit to SA in the city of Tshwane in August 2023, cementing 25 years of strong ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations.

SA is the second largest economy on the continent and a member of the BRICS.

In 2023, China-SA trade volume reached $55.6 billion, accounting for about one-fifth of China’s total trade with the continent.

China has remained SA’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, while SA has been China’s largest trading partner in Africa for 14 consecutive years.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1998, China and SA have enjoyed close high-level exchanges, firm mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns, and close cooperation in international affairs.

As the first African country to sign a Belt and Road cooperation memorandum of understanding with China in 2015, SA has incorporated the Chinese language into its national curriculum, established the most Confucius institutes and Confucius classrooms among African countries, and designated September 17 as the SA Chinese Language Day which is celebrated annually.

SA is also the most popular African destination for Chinese tourists.

The upcoming FOCAC summit will be held under the theme “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.”

Many African leaders, including Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, will lead delegations to the summit. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will attend as a special guest, and relevant international and regional organisations will participate as observer.

--SABC--