On March 27, 2026 local time, Vice President Han Zheng attended the China South Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in Cape Town, South Africa and delivered a speech.
Han Zheng stated that economic and trade cooperation is the “ballast stone” and “propeller” of China South Africa relations. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, trade and investment cooperation between China and South Africa has flourished and achieved fruitful results. By 2025, the bilateral trade volume will reach 53.58 billion US dollars, and China’s direct investment stock in South Africa will exceed 11.7 billion US dollars. China has been South Africa’s largest trading partner for many consecutive years, and South Africa is China’s largest trading partner and one of the most important investment destinations in Africa. The cooperation between the two sides in industries such as automobiles and home appliances continues to strengthen, and the highlights of cooperation in emerging fields such as digital and green are diverse, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries.
Han Zheng stated that currently, the world’s century long changes are accelerating, with unilateralism and protectionism escalating, and the international economic and trade order suffering serious impacts. The unity, mutual assistance, and joint development between China and South Africa, as well as the deepening of cooperation in various fields, have important historical significance and global influence.
Han Zheng put forward three suggestions. One is to deepen strategic alignment. Both China and South Africa are developing countries that have always shared weal and woe and firmly supported each other. China is willing to continue to deepen strategic mutual trust with South Africa, strengthen policy communication, actively implement the outcomes of the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, promote the in-depth connection between the joint construction of the “the Belt and Road” cooperation and South Africa’s national development plan, and tap the potential of practical cooperation in various fields.
Han Zheng stated that 2026 is the starting year of China’s 15th Five Year Plan. During the 15th Five Year Plan period, China will further expand its high-level opening-up to the outside world, providing broader market space and more opportunities for cooperation and win-win outcomes for enterprises from various countries. The business community is the builder and beneficiary of the development of China South Africa relations. We hope that everyone will continue to promote the entrepreneurial spirit, maintain close communication and exchanges, deepen practical cooperation, and make greater contributions to accelerating the construction of a high-level China South community with a shared future.
The China South Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum is jointly hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the South African Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. More than 350 representatives from the political and business circles of China and South Africa attended, including more than 70 Chinese companies and over 110 South African business leaders.