The President of the Republic (PR), Cyril Ramaphosa, will undertake a state visit to China from June 22 to 25, at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. The visit will coincide with the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, to be held in Beijing, marking a significant diplomatic moment for South Africa.
Ramaphosa’s trip to China will highlight the ongoing strategic alignment between Pretoria and Beijing and reinforce South Africa’s role as one of Africa’s key interlocutors. The context is particularly symbolic given South Africa’s growing economic ties with China and the upcoming Angolan presidency of the African Union.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were formalized in 1998, marking 27 years of solid cooperation. In 2023, bilateral trade reached about 36.8 billion dollars, driven by agricultural exports, mining operations, and partnerships in technology and infrastructure sectors. The visit continues the tradition of high-level exchanges, following the Chinese President’s fourth visit to South Africa in 2024. Ramaphosa will seek to reaffirm the mutual commitment to shared development goals within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
During his stay, the South African head of state will be received with honors at the Great Hall of the People and will pay tribute at the Monument to the People’s Heroes in Tiananmen Square. Signing of cooperation agreements in agriculture, science, technology, and human settlements is also planned.
On the second day of the visit, Ramaphosa will travel to Shenzhen, China’s technology hub, where he will meet industry leaders. The aim is to identify new opportunities for collaboration in the digital sector and accelerate technological transformation in South Africa.
The South African President will participate in the FOCAC summit, themed “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.” Ramaphosa will also co-chair a panel with the Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Wang Huning, focusing on industrialization, modern agriculture, and green development.
On the sidelines of the summit, Ramaphosa will speak at the South Africa-China Business Forum, which will bring together businesspeople from both countries to discuss trade, investment, and infrastructure strategies. The South African delegation will include ministers and provincial leaders, highlighting the pan-African and multisectoral nature of this diplomatic mission.
Source: Further Africa
