Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe to undertake an Official Visit to the People’s Republic of China

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is scheduled to undertake an official visit to the People’s Republic of China from 27-30 September 2011 at the invitation of Vice President, Mr Xi Jinping.

The main objectives of the visit are to strengthen and consolidate political and economic relations between South Africa and China.

The forthcoming visit will be held within the context of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed during President Zuma’s State Visit to China in August 2010, whereby South Africa and China agreed to:

• encourage trade in manufactured value-added products;
• encourage Chinese enterprises to increase investment in South Africa’s   manufacturing industry;
• promote value-adding activities in close proximity to the source of raw materials;
• cooperate and provide mutual technical support in the areas of the green economy;
• develop skills and provide industrial financing; and
• encourage companies from both countries to cooperate in infrastructure projects
• such as roads, railways, ports, power generation, airports and housing.

The Deputy President will hold official talks with the Chinese leadership.South Africa and the People’s Republic of China enjoy cordial bilateral political and economic relations. This is demonstrated by frequent high level visit exchanges, the number of cooperation agreements signed in various fields and the increase in trade between the two countries since the establishment of formal diplomatic relation in 1998.

Since the end of 2009, China became South Africa's biggest trading partner. Trade between the two countries grew significantly with exports from South Africa to China amounting to R 39 434 995 641.00; imports from China to South Africa amounting to R 43 165 802 277.00 with a trade deficit of R 3 730 806 636.00 in favor of China from January to June 2011.

Deputy President Motlanthe will be accompanied by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, Minister of Public Enterprises,Malusi Gigaba, Minister of Energy,Dipou Peters, Minister of Mineral Resources, Susan Shabangu, Deputy Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene and Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ebrahim Ebrahim.

For further information please contact Mr. Clayson Monyela spokesperson for DIRCO on 082 884 5974

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Pretoria

21 September 2011