South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has addressed a South Africa-China Business Forum in Beijing, aiming to strengthen economic ties between the two nations.
The forum took place alongside the Summit on China-Africa Cooperation and during President Ramaphosa’s state visit to China.
In his address, President Ramaphosa highlighted the potential for increased trade and investment between South Africa and China, describing both countries as having “vibrant, diverse and growing economies”.
The South African leader emphasised the wealth of opportunities available for businesses looking to expand into new markets in both countries.
The Business Forum was presented as a platform for engagement between South African and Chinese business leaders, with the goal of enhancing the trade and investment relationship between the two nations.
This event comes as China continues to deepen its economic involvement in Africa, with South Africa being a key partner on the continent.
The forum also provided an opportunity for President Ramaphosa to showcase South Africa’s economic potential to Chinese investors, at a time when his country is seeking to attract foreign investment to stimulate economic growth.
The South African Presidency, also known as the Union Buildings, promoted the event as an important step in fostering closer economic cooperation between South Africa and China.
As two of the largest economies in the BRICS group of emerging nations, the strengthening of South Africa-China economic ties could have significant implications for South-South cooperation and global trade patterns.