Political

Meeting with Vice President of Wuhan University, Prof. Tang Qizhu

On 20 March 2024, Ambassador SC Cwele accompanied by some Embassy officials, had a meeting with Prof. Tang Qizhu, the Vice President of Wuhan University in Hubei Province. Wuhan university has a number of South African students studying various fields. To this end, the purpose of the meeting with the leadership of the university was to foster and consolidate relations between South Africa and China in the area of Higher Education and Training. During the engagements, Prof. Qizhu indicated that Wuhan University will work on increasing enrolment of South Africa students as well as providing scholarships to the said students.

Meeting with the Vice Governor of Hubei Provincial Government, Madame Chen Ping

In the afternoon of 20 March 2024, Ambassador SC Cwele accompanied by colleagues from the Embassy, had a meeting with Madam Chen Ping, Vice Governor of Hubei Provincial Government. The purpose of the visit to the province was to identify opportunities for bilateral cooperation (economic, cultural, people-to-people exchanges, educational and tourism) between Hubei Province and South Africa. During the meeting, Madame Ping reported that People to People Exchange Mechanism between South Africa and China is one of the measures of relations between the two countries and that she was delighted the visit to Hubei by the Embassy achieved that goal.

Defence

Visit Naval Command College at Nanjing, Jiangsu Province on 21 March 2024

On 21 March 2024, Defence Attache of the South African Embassy in Beijing, Brig. Gen. W M Bucibe visited the South African National Defence Force member, who is a student at Naval Command College in Nanjing.

Cdr. Zanele Madiba, who forms part of the International Military Exchange Group (IMEG) of the Naval Command College (NCC), is attending Naval Command and Staff Program, which started 16 November 2023 and ends on 26 July 2024.

Brig. Gen. W M Bucibe had a fruitful meeting with the Vice President of the College, Rear Admiral Zhang Yueliang, and Cdr. Zanele Madiba with the staff attended. After the meeting, Brig. Gen. W M Bucibe and Rear Admiral Zhang Yueliang exchanged official gifts.

The Commandant of the college reported that Cdr. Zanele Madiba is a well discipline Officer and dedicated to her studies. The student also registered for master program with the college and will be completed in 2025 through distance learning mechanism.

Corporative Services

Meeting with South African students in Wuhan City, Hubei Province from 20 to 22 March 2024

The Ambassador and officials from the Embassy undertook a trip to Wuhan City in Hubei Province from 20 to 22 March 2024. The Ambassador and officials met with South African students, teachers and businesspeople on 22 March 2024. This was part of the outreach awareness campaign, which the Embassy has embarked on. The engagement and interaction were fruitful and successful. The group commented that this was the first time since they are in China that such a get together was organised. During the engagement, the officials stressed the importance of the dos and don’ts in China and also what the Government can and cannot do, should South Africans find themselves in distress. The group was requested to take the handouts and message from the engagement to the greater South African community in China.

Political

A Working Lunch with the Executive President of Energy China: Southern and Eastern African Regional Headquarters

On 29 February 2024, the Executive President of Energy China, Mr Shen Chen, hosted Ambassador SC Cwele for a working lunch. Mr Shen hosted Ambassador SC Cwele with a view to update him about Energy China planned operation in South Africa’s energy sector. Mr Shen, who left for South Africa on 3 March 2024, informed Ambassador SC Cwele that in Energy China participated in two successful workshops which were organised by ESKOM aimed at addressing South Africa’s electricity challenges. Mr Shen’s visit to South Africa this month is the second one since he last visited Southy Africa in November 2023. Mr Shen indicated that Energy China had already dispatched its engineers who visited Medupi and Kusile power plants.

Courtesy Call on the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to China

In the afternoon of 29 February 2024, Ambassador SC Cwele paid a courtesy call on the Ambassador of Palestine to China, HE Mr Fariz Mehdawi.

Ambassador SC Cwele informed his host that he deemed it fit to visit the Ambassador of Palestine as a symbolic gesture for South Africa’s unwavering support for the struggle of the Palestinian people for freedom and statehood. He stated that the current atrocities which meet all criteria for a genocide against the Palestinian people by the State of Israel should be condemned with contempt it deserves as it is brutal, inhumane and against international law.

Courtesy Call on Ambassador SC Cwele by the Ambassador of Ethiopia to China

The new Ambassador of Ethiopia to China, HE Mr Tefera Derbew Yiman paid a courtesy call on Ambassador SC Cwele on 1 March 2024 at the Embassy of South Africa in Beijing. Ambassador SC Cwele warmly welcomed the Ambassador of Ethiopia. He noted that Ethiopia remains as the symbol of African unity and expressed his hope that the new Ambassador of Ethiopia would bring more impetus to the work of the Group of African Ambassador to China particularly considering the upcoming FOCAC summit which will be hosted by China in the second half of 2024. Ambassador Cwele also indicated that now that Ethiopia is a member of the BRICS, South Africa is looking forward to work with Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates on matters affecting the global South. He emphasised the fact that the expansion of BRICS is a positive step towards the right direction in advancing the interests of developing countries.

The Ambassador of Ethiopia took the opportunity to express Ethiopia’s appreciation for South Africa’s support during its bid to join BRICS in 2023. He recalled what he termed “long standing relationship between Ethiopia and South Africa” based on mutual respect, brotherhood, and fraternity. He also acknowledged the role that South Africa is playing in   the resolution of conflicts on the African continent including the facilitation of the Pretoria Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities between the Government of Ethiopia and Tigray People’s Liberation Front which was signed on 2 November 2022.

Economy & Trade

Ambassador SC Cwele led the Mission’s trade and investment engagement with East China Engineering Science and Technology Company

Ambassador SC Cwele led the Mission’s trade and investment engagement with high-level Chinese investor, East China Engineering Science and Technology Company (ECEC) from 21 to 24 February 2024 in Hefei, Anhui Province. The Ambassador was received by Mr Li Lixin, Chairman of ECEC and his senior management team.

Chairman Li briefed on ECEC’s proposed project to be implemented in South Africa and to explore tangible trade and investment opportunities for the company in South Africa’s petrochemicals sector.  In this regard, on the side-lines of the BRI Forum in Beijing last year, ECEC signed an Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract with South African company Nyanza Light Metals to construct a petrochemicals facility in the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ). The project will deliver 80, 000 tons per annum titanium dioxide (TiO2) plant that will cost R15bn to complete over 35 months. This is a significant investment into the South African economy.

Chairman Li pointed out that the project is China's first Sulphate Process TiO2 EPC project implemented overseas. After the completion of the project, it will become the first modern TiO2 plant in South Africa and the only titanium dioxide project in Africa, which can effectively meet the domestic demand of South African and the African continent market, reduce foreign exchange consumption, and at the same time promote the upgrading of industrial structure and promote employment and income generation.

As this project is registered as a Presidential strategic priority project, it is important for the South African Embassy in Beijing, supported by the Consulate in Shanghai, to support the project and address any issues that may arise. This will elevate the investment to national status and allow the company to access all the national tools that have been made available to high-level investors. The Ambassador reiterated the Mission’s mandate to assist investors in the process of doing business in South Africa.

Ambassador SC Cwele accompanied Minister Patel in attending the meeting with Chinese Minister of Commerce

Ambassador SC Cwele accompanied Minister Patel in attending the bilateral meeting with Mr Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce of China on March 5 in Beijing. The two sides focused on exchanging views on implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and deepening bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

China is willing to work with South Africa to create more convenient conditions for enterprises of the two countries to deepen trade and investment cooperation. Minister Patel hopes to further expand the export of industrial products and agricultural products to China and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in South Africa and expand cooperation in the fields of new energy vehicles and batteries.

Defence

South African National Defence Force Armed Forces Day 2024

The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in China hosted the South African National Defence Force Armed Forces Day event on 21 February 2024 in Beijing. In attendance were the representatives of the Office of International Military Cooperation, Defence Attaches of Beijing Military Attaches Corps and some representatives from military industry in China.

Established on 27 April 1994, the South African National Defence Force marks 30 years this year. Last year, South Africa and China celebrated 25 years of diplomatic relations, which further strengthened military-to-military relations and cooperation. The two sides have achieved fruitful exchanges and cooperation in fields such as joint training and exercises, academic education, medical and health care, and equipment technology. In 2024, South Africa will continue to cooperate with China in advancing the bilateral relations to a higher level and make new and greater contributions towards a better and safer world.

Lt A. Khan, who forms part of the International Military Exchange Group (IMEG) of the Dalian Naval Academy (DNA) is attending Surface Ship Junior Command Program which started 01 September 2023 to end on 30 July 2024.

Brig. Gen. W M Bucibe had a fruitful meeting with the vice president of the Academy Sr. Capt. Song Hui present was Lt A. Khan with the staff including the lecturers.