Media Statement
19 February 2017
Minister Nkoana-Mashabane concludes a successful working visit to the People's Republic of China
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane has today, Sunday, 19 February 2017, concluded a successful working visit to Beijing in the People's Republic of China, where she met with her counterpart, Foreign Minister WANG Yi and paid a courtesy call on Vice Minister of Finance SHI Yaobin.
South Africa and China’s bilateral diplomatic relationship is at the level of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), with China currently involved in several important development projects in the country. The two countries are also members of BRICS and co-chairs of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The engagements in Beijing provided an important opportunity for Minister Nkoana-Mashabane and Minister WANG Yi, as well as Vice Minister SHI Yaobin to discuss issues of mutual interest at the bilateral and multilateral level.
"The purpose of the visit was to meet with my counterpart, Minister WANG Yi and Vice Minister of Finance SHI Yaobin to discuss the South Africa-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and progress we are making bilaterally. We also took stock of progress made as the co-chairs of FOCAC. In our capacity as Ministers responsible for the overall coordination of work under BRICS in our respective countries, we also discussed the status of BRICS projects," said Minister Nkoana-Mashabane.
China, the current chair of BRICS, will host the 9th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in Xiamen, Fujian Province, from 3-5 September 2017. Thereafter, it will be South Africa's turn to chair BRICS in 2018.
In conclusion, the Minister expressed her satisfaction with the outcomes of this brief but especially fruitful working visit to China.
Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, 082 884 5974
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
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