By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has concluded a working visit to China aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and economic cooperation between South Africa and China.
Mashatile participated in the third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), taking place from 16 – 20 July 2025 in Beijing, China.
CISCE is the world’s first national-level expo dedicated to global supply chains. It is hosted under the auspices of the Chinese Central Government and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).
Mashatile said that South Africa is prioritizing international exchange, particularly with the Global South.
“It’s something that exists already where we are doing a lot of exchanges in music, dance and learning each other’s languages as required. “said Mashatile.
“We are encouraging people to people relations, with many countries, including China. As part of FOCAC (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation), we also have an agreement on cultural partnership.”
In the past decade alone, 48 Chinese companies have invested over US$11.69 billion in South Africa, cementing China’s position as South Africa’s biggest trading partner in the world and one of its largest investors.
Mashatile said there had been a cumulative cash outflow of $114.83 billion from South Africa to China since the launch of the FOCAC.
But he said South Africa continued to offer Chinese investors in high-growth sectors, including renewable energy, green hydrogen, infrastructure, logistics, and the digital economy. He also encouraged investors to leverage South Africa as a gateway to the continent through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“We need to defend our markets as well, against the tariff battle that the US has started and we can only do so if we cooperate and work together… That’s going to go beyond us and China. All the countries of the Global South must be part of this cooperation. I think, if we do it, we will be able to withstand the challenges.”
US imposed tariffs of 30% on South Africa on 1 August 2025 as per his “America First” strategy. The tariffs are set to limit South Africa’s exports to the US, one of the nation’s largest trading partners.
Trump has already sent letters to over 20 trade partners outlining tariffs on goods imported from their countries. The letters set new baseline tariff levels at 20% to 40% — except for a 50% levy on goods from Brazil in a move that waded into the country’s domestic politics.
Mashatile was accompanied by cabinet ministers who discussed the work of their respective departments in their exchanges with China.
Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Thandi Moraka said work is being done to boost cultural diplomacy between the two countries.
“Even here in China, through our mission in Beijing, we do partner with Brand South Africa (the official marketing agency of South Africa) and several organizations to strengthen our cultural diplomacy programs, where we need to learn other people’s languages and also learn how they eat and how they dance through music,” she said.
“And also, the Embassy of China (in South Africa) is working very closely with us to work towards strengthening our cultural diplomacy with the People’s Republic of China,” she added.
South Africa currently holds the Group of 20 (G20) presidency and will host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in November. Mashatile said the upcoming summit in Johannesburg is an opportunity to form partnerships.
“We will be inviting a lot of other businesses to come to South Africa in November as we convene the summit in Johannesburg.
China’s Vice President Han Zheng expressed confidence in the South African Government and emphasised the importance of strengthening existing cooperation. He further reiterated China’s support for South Africa’s Presidency of the Group of 20 (G20).